Mondo News

Is This the Most Memorable Acronym in Science? It Definitely Stinks!

Posted on August 15, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Feedback is your go-to source for the latest in science and technology news from new scientists. Share your intriguing finds with us at Feedback@newscientist.com for potential inclusion.

And inhaling…

To achieve success in science, having good ideas and conducting effective experiments is beneficial. However, mastering the art of crafting a catchy acronym is essential. If you can distill a description of your project into an acronym, you’ll be onto something great.

That’s how I came up with names like Antarctic Moon, Neutrino Detector Arrays (Amanda), and Telescope Axis Exchange (CoSTAR) in the Modified Optical Space. Unfortunately, some folks resort to manipulating letters to craft the acronyms they desire—leading to humorously awkward titles like the BMJ 2014 paper titled “Title”Search for humor and luxurious acronyms: A completely inappropriate name of a critical clinical trial (science): qualitative and quantitative systematic research.”

A hat tip to Raif Sheeben, Yoel Zimmerman, and their team for a July survey in NPJ Food Science. They developed a “chemical language model for predicting molecular taste,” a machine learning model capable of forecasting the flavor of chemicals based on their molecular structure. Trained on over 15,000 compounds, the researchers successfully categorized tastes into four distinct groups.

Remarkably, this model achieved over 91% accuracy and can assist in flavor creation. Naturally, the team dubbed it a flavour analysis and recognition transformer, or ‘fart’ for short.

Food engineer Andy Clayton flagged this, humorously pointing out that “regardless of its value, one can’t read it without laughing.”

We encourage readers to share their stories about the most ridiculous acronyms and cringe-worthy attempts they’ve encountered in their pursuits.

No surprises here

Feedback called upon readers for “Shit, Sherlock”: an illustration of scientific endeavors that invest extensive time and effort to demonstrate something rather obvious. Your responses have been coming in since.

Maggie Jacobs highlighted an article from Discover about The psychological benefits of loneliness, referencing a 2023 study. This research examined whether individuals reap benefits from maintaining a balance between solitude and social interactions, concluding there was no evidence of an ‘optimal balance.’ It found no negative consequences, especially when people consciously chose to spend time alone. As Maggie aptly states, “When people choose their activities, they tend to be happier.”

For extra context, the study’s authors utilized the outdated term “selective” to suggest individuals are intentionally engaging in activities rather than opting for a more contemporary term like “intentional.”

Meanwhile, Ernest Ager pointed out the obvious title of a The Conversation article: “Can you spot a ‘fake’ accent? It depends on where you’re from.” While it seems straightforward, the findings were even clearer: people from the US, Canada, and Australia are less adept at identifying fake versions of various UK accents than those native to the UK.

Farewell to Tom

We were saddened to hear of Tom Lehrer’s passing on July 26th. He was a brilliant satirical singer-songwriter renowned for his clever takes on mathematics. His song element has undoubtedly become his most recognizable tune. Thanks to countless devoted chemistry educators, Feedback appreciates his satirical take on nuclear warfare in songs like When we go, we all go together and his delightfully dark love songs such as Masochistic Tango.

In 2022, Lehrer made all of his music available under copyright, so you can access it freely at Tomlehrersongs.com. We highly recommend checking out the site for a treasure trove of lesser-known tracks that weren’t part of his popular albums.

For instance, we hadn’t encountered his piece Love Song by a Physical Anthropologist before. It humorously critiques that “every traditional love song that addresses the physical attributes of a beloved individual limits its praise to features like hair, eyes, and lips, whereas physical anthropologists can utilize an extensive array of descriptive adjectives” and hence, “I love you / she is beautiful, she is enchanting / it is traumatic, vascular, riffipilous, laryngeal production / my gal of metriocephaly.”

We were curious to discover, via Opalescentopal on Bluesky, some of the clever antics Lehrer pulled while serving in the US military. Notably, he worked for the NSA, and one of his papers is now publicly available at his discretion, titled “Defeating the gambler with his heartfelt enemies.” It delves into enduring mathematical challenges.

At the conclusion of the 1957 paper, there are six references, one of which is humorously attributed to “Lobachevsky,” relating to analytical and algebraic topology, claiming it discusses a topology of infinitely differentiable Lemanian local Euclidean metrics. [sic] This is actually a joke, referencing Lehrer’s own “Lobachevsky” rather than a legitimate mathematical paper.

This is how people play the long game. A very long game, indeed, Tom.

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Introverts, Extroverts, and Beyond: Exploring New Personality Types

Posted on August 15, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

An insightful scientist. Science News and extensive articles from expert journalists focusing on scientific, technological, health, and environmental advances.

Growing up, it was a tradition for my peers to join scouts when they turned 9 or 10. My parents gifted me a scout uniform accompanied by a matching scarf and a leather toggle to secure it at the collar.

We sat in a circle on the ground, each perched on small stools, as our leader spoke to us seriously. After discussing the essence of being a junior scout, he instructed us to pay close attention as he recited the scouting pledge, which we solemnly repeated.

It was the first moment I realized I was different; as I articulated those words, the others appeared captivated by this rite of passage. Yet, unlike them, I felt no emotional connection to the sacred bonds forged with fellow inductees or those who had come before us—just the emptiness of mere words.

Most people find it challenging to envision a state where one doesn’t feel a deep-seated affinity or loyalty to any group. This experience is rare; some consider such psychological tendencies as disorders to be addressed. However, over my 40 years as a clinical psychiatrist, I’ve come to understand that many of my patients (and I) being indifferent to group memberships isn’t necessarily a psychological issue.

Otroverts is a term embraced by individuals who don’t feel bound to merge their identities with others. We all begin life as otroverts until childhood cultural influences solidify our attachments to various identities and groups.

The struggle to identify with a group can lead to social implications in cultures structured around participation. However, being outside these groups can have its advantages: free from implicit rules and influences of belonging, unoften brings originality and emotional autonomy.

By being on the outside, you’re free to think and create unfettered. GroupThink loses its hold, allowing you to discern your thoughts from the collective’s gravitational pull, enabling you to explore ideas without the fear of undermining the group’s notion of what constitutes a “good” idea.

Since you can’t be expelled from a group you aren’t part of, fears of social rejection diminish. There’s no need for external validation or relying on others for emotional support; you don’t feel compelled to prove your worth to anyone.

Our society often blurs the line between connection and belonging. Yet it’s essential to recognize that those who find it challenging to connect may struggle to foster a sense of belonging, but that doesn’t mean they lack connection entirely. In reality, free from the distractions of pop culture, cliques, family disputes, and political factions (all of which relate to otroverts), one can truly bond with those who resonate on a deeper level.

History showcases many independent thinkers who maintain emotional detachment from any group, allowing them to recognize the fanaticism of groupthink long before deviating into it. Orwell is a notable example.

Sadly, it appears that individuals often need to rise from the ashes of destructive group dynamics before they can grasp their rightful path as independent thinkers.

We might learn from the otrovert perspective that while community has its merits, we must remain acutely aware of its darker tribal undercurrents.

Rami Kaminsky is a psychiatrist and author of The Gift of Not Belonging.

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How Aging Can Still Lead to Good Health for Years

Posted on August 15, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Alistair Berg/Getty Images

One of the more challenging perspectives on aging is the prospect of enduring poor health later in life. A common narrative is that although life expectancy has increased, the health span has not kept pace.

This perspective is shifting towards a new measurement of our later years, emphasizing “essential ability”—how well individuals can engage in the activities they value rather than solely focusing on chronic disease diagnoses. Viewed this way, those born in affluent nations during the 1950s appear poised to experience the longest and healthiest lifespans compared to any previous generation.

Nonetheless, it remains uncertain whether future generations will benefit similarly, as rising rates of obesity, pollution, and increasingly sedentary lifestyles could negate past advantages.

As of 2023, over three-quarters of the US population is living with at least one chronic condition, with more than half of middle-aged adults experiencing two or more. However, when considering health in terms of intrinsic competence, a diagnosis does not necessarily herald the end of well-being, as effective management can allow individuals to maintain their health.

People born in the 1950s in a rich country are set to lead the longest and healthiest life ever

Unfortunately, the narrative of a chronic disease epidemic has been fueled by certain figures, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who recently reduced funding for research into mRNA vaccine technologies. This funding could critically assist in prolonging lives and mitigating disease impacts.

Nevertheless, there is cause for hope. For instance, GLP-1 medications present a groundbreaking method for managing obesity, and preliminary findings from recent studies indicate promising new avenues for alleviating Alzheimer’s disease.

Such innovations should serve as a reminder to policymakers that if our aim is to extend healthy living, investing in biomedical research is an essential ally, not a detractor.

In 2024, a Record Surge in Hot and Humid Days Recorded

Posted on August 15, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Shanghai endured prolonged extreme heat and humidity in 2024

Reuters/Nicoco Chan

The planet faced an unprecedented number of perilous hot and humid days in 2024, as climate change heightened global humidity levels to new extremes.

The worldwide average of humid heat days exceeded the 1991-2020 baseline, reaching 35.6 days last year—a rise of over 9.5 days compared to the previous high recorded in 2023. Climate Report 2024 Status as published by the American Weather Society.

During hot and humid weather, cooling becomes challenging as moist air hinders the body’s ability to cool itself through sweating. This makes such conditions exceptionally hazardous for human health. Kate Willett, who contributed to the report at the UK Met Office, states, “Your body starts to really struggle to offload the heat, so it’s really dangerous.”

Meteorologists track “wet bulb temperature” to assess heat and humidity. This involves utilizing a wet cloth on a thermometer bulb to illustrate the cooling effect of evaporation. High humidity diminishes the evaporation’s cooling effect, causing wet bulb temperatures to approach those of dry air.

As global temperatures rise, the atmosphere can retain more moisture, leading to not only stronger rainfall and storms but also heightened humidity levels. Willett notes that 2024 is “exceptionally” humid and ranks just behind 2023 in moisture content.

Certain regions, including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and East China, have experienced extreme temperatures of 31°C (88°F) over short periods, with wet bulb temperatures surpassing 84°F multiple times, as indicated in the report. At such levels, prolonged exposure is deemed extremely hazardous and potentially fatal to human health.

Historically, scientists have considered a wet bulb temperature of 35°C as the survival threshold, beyond which individuals cannot endure outdoor conditions for more than a few hours without dire consequences. However, recent research published in 2022 suggests that the actual limit may be significantly lower, around 31°C. “Over 30°C is where your body really struggles,” Willett explains.

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Scientists Develop a Second Novel Carbon Molecule

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Researchers have stabilized ring-shaped carbon molecules by adding “bumpers” to protect the atoms.

Harry Anderson

An innovative variety of whole carbon molecules is currently under investigation at standard room temperature. This marks only the second instance of such research since the synthesis of the spherical buckyball 35 years ago. These advancements may lead to the development of materials that offer substantial efficiencies for emerging electronic and quantum technologies.

Carbon molecules composed of circulating rings can display unique chemical characteristics and, similar to buckyballs and carbon nanotubes, can conduct electricity in unexpected ways. Nonetheless, these rings are fragile and often disintegrate before researchers can analyze them.

“Cyclic carbons are fascinating molecules that we’ve been endeavoring to create for quite some time,” said Harry Anderson from Oxford University. Traditionally, it was essential to maintain a sufficient length for studying the molecules, but Anderson and his team have discovered a method to stabilize cyclic carbon at room temperature.

This process involves modifying the cyclic carbon structure. The researchers have achieved this with unprecedented molecular constructs—specifically, rings consisting of 48 carbon atoms known as cyclo[48]Carbon, or c₄₈. They augmented the c₄₈ by incorporating a “bumper” that prevents the 48 atoms from colliding with one another or with additional molecules.

“There are no unnecessary embellishments,” remarked Max Fonderius from Ulm University, Germany. “Simplicity possesses an exquisite elegance.”

A new configuration called Cyclo[48]carbon [4]Catenan remains stable for approximately two days, allowing researchers to investigate c₄₈ for the first time. Interestingly, the molecule’s 48 carbons behaved as if they were arranged in infinite chains, a formation that enables charge transfer between atoms indefinitely.

This remarkable conduction ability suggests that cyclic carbon could be utilized in a variety of next-generation technologies, including transistors, solar cells, semiconductors, and quantum devices. Nonetheless, further inquiry is necessary to validate this potential.

Innovative techniques for stabilizing cyclic carbon may also inspire other scientists to explore exotic carbon molecules. “I believe there is likely a competitive race happening right now,” said von Delius. “Consider this elongated ring as a stepping stone toward the creation of an infinite chain.”

Von Delius further explained that a solitary chain of carbon molecules could prove to be even superior conductors than the rings like C₄₈. “It’s truly remarkable, and it represents the next significant advancement,” he stated.

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AI Capable of Translating Imagined Speech into Spoken Language

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Individuals with paralysis utilizing a brain-computer interface. The text above serves as a prompt, while the text below is decoded in real-time as she envisions speaking the phrase.

Emory BrainGate Team

A person with paralysis can convert their thoughts into speech just by imagining what they want to say.

The brain-computer interface can already interpret the neural activity of a paralyzed individual when attempting to speak physically, but this requires significant effort. Therefore, Benyamin Meschede-Krasa from Stanford University and his team explored a less effort-intensive method.

“We aimed to determine if there was a similar pattern when individuals imagined speaking internally,” he notes. “Our findings suggest this could be a more comfortable method for people with paralysis to use the system to regain their ability to communicate.”

Meschede-Krasa and his colleagues enlisted four participants with severe paralysis due to either amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or brainstem stroke. All had previously had microelectrodes implanted in motor areas linked to speech for research purposes.

Researchers instructed participants to list words and sentences and to visualize themselves saying them. They discovered that the brain activity mirrored that of actual speech; however, the activation signal was typically weaker during the imagined speech.

The team trained AI models to interpret and decode these signals utilizing a vocabulary database containing up to 125,000 words. To uphold the privacy of individuals’ thoughts, the models were programmed to activate only when a specific password, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, was detected with 98% accuracy.

Through various experiments, the researchers found that the models could decode what was intended to be communicated correctly up to 74% of the time when spoken as a single word.

This demonstrates a promising application of the approach, though it is currently less reliable than systems that decode overt speech attempts, according to Frank Willett at Stanford. Ongoing enhancements to both the sensors and AI over the coming years may lead to greater accuracy, he suggests.

Participants reported a strong preference for this system, describing it as faster and less cumbersome compared to traditional speech-attempt based systems, as stated by Meschede-Krasa.

This notion presents an “interesting direction” for future brain-computer interfaces, remarks Maris Cavan Stencel in Utrecht, Netherlands. However, she points out the need for a distinction between genuine speech and the thoughts individuals may not necessarily wish to share. “I have doubts about whether anyone can truly differentiate between these types of mental speech and attempted speech,” she adds.

She further mentions that the mechanism requires activation and deactivation to ascertain if the user intends to articulate their thoughts. “It is crucial to ensure that brain-computer interface-generated communications are conscious expressions individuals wish to convey, rather than internal thoughts they wish to keep private,” she states.

Benjamin Alderson Day from Durham University in the UK argues that there’s no reason to label the system as a mind reader. “It effectively addresses very basic language constructs,” he explains. “Though it may seem alarming if thoughts are confined to single terms like ‘tree’ or ‘bird,’ we are still a long way from capturing the full range of individuals’ thoughts and their most intimate ideas.”

Willett underscores that all brain-computer interfaces are governed by federal regulations, ensuring adherence to the “highest standards of medical ethics.”

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Artificial Intelligence/
Brain

Ultra-Cold Atoms Defy Entropy and Resist Heating Up

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Some atoms simply refuse to follow entropy

Shutterstock / Mendin

Repeated energization of vast collections of atoms should result in the disruption of their established structures, yet quantum effects appear to resist these changes.

The expected outcome for a physical system is “thermalization,” where everything becomes hot and eventually turns into a puddle of water. Intuitively, one might think that continuously throwing rocks at a sculpture would accelerate this process. Hanns-Christoph Negerl and his team at the University of Innsbruck in Germany conducted experiments that mimic this notion using some of the coldest atoms on Earth, but they observed no heating.

“We anticipated witnessing the opposite,” Negerl shares. The researchers utilized roughly 100,000 cesium atoms, cooling them down to billionths of absolute zero through laser and electromagnetic pulses. At this chilling temperature, atomic behavior becomes entirely quantum. They arranged the atoms in numerous single-layer tubes and employed additional laser pulses to “kick” them repeatedly.

These kicks were intended to provide the atoms with extra energy, which should have resulted in heating and varying speeds. However, team member Yanliang Guo reported that they observed no such changes, regardless of the kick intensity or the adjustments made to the interactions between atoms. The atoms continued to display remarkably similar speeds, behaving as if they were “frozen” within a singular quantum state.

The concept of quantum particles generating heat isn’t new, tracing back to the 1950s. The timing of such occurrences has long been a topic of debate among physicists. Team member Manuele Landini noted that while previous experiments revealed mechanisms for heating atoms, this current investigation may have unveiled novel physics by exploring an alternate range of parameters.

The mathematical framework explaining these phenomena is complex and often contradictory. Adam Ranson from the University of Lille in France commented that calculating whether interacting atoms will heat up is quite challenging, often resulting in researchers simplifying equations to two or three atoms. There exists a theory suggesting that the quantum states of highly interactive atoms can align in a manner that prevents energy absorption, but Ranson believes this picture remains incomplete.

Experiments like those conducted recently act as quantum simulators capable of deeper insights, although Rançon emphasized that further exploration of kick strengths and interactions is still needed.

Robert Connick at Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York has been developing mathematical models relevant to such experiments that project the unusual behavior of atoms. He posits that discovering systems resistant to energy absorption could inspire new developments in quantum technologies, offering a stable quantum state for long-term reliable detection or data storage. “Thermalization poses a significant threat to maintaining quantum effects,” he explains.

Researchers are already planning follow-up experiments to align atoms in thicker tubes, manipulate different tubes, and investigate the possibility of “freezing” their speeds.

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A Newly Discovered Diabetes Subtype in Young People in Sub-Saharan Africa

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Classical type 1 diabetes may not be the most prevalent diabetes subtype in sub-Saharan Africa

Milomei/Aramie

Recent studies suggest that some individuals in sub-Saharan Africa diagnosed with type 1 diabetes may actually have a newly identified, non-autoimmune variant, necessitating a reassessment of current treatment approaches.

Diabetes affects every individual’s ability to produce or utilize insulin, a hormone essential for regulating blood sugar levels. However, the underlying causes differ. In classic type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune reaction destroys insulin-secreting beta cells within the pancreas, aided by “autoantibodies.”

Research led by Jean Claude Nyabou Cut from the University of Exeter reveals that approximately two-thirds of young sub-Saharan Africans diagnosed with type 1 diabetes lack these autoantibodies. This indicates that their insulin shortage might not be immune-related. Additionally, these individuals exhibit a lower predisposition to type 1 diabetes, suggesting an entirely new diabetes variant.

Studies have indicated autoantibodies are less prevalent among sub-Saharan Africans compared to their counterparts in affluent regions such as Europe. The reasons behind this discrepancy remain unclear, primarily due to the scarcity of comprehensive data regarding type 1 diabetes in Africa.

To address this gap, Kat and his colleagues conducted the first multicountry investigation of the condition across sub-Saharan Africa. They assessed three diabetic autoantibodies and the associated genetic factors in 894 Black Africans from Uganda, Cameroon, and South Africa, all of whom were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and receiving insulin treatment.

The findings revealed that 35% of participants possessed autoantibodies, low insulin levels, and an elevated risk of type 1 diabetes. Conversely, the remaining 65% exhibited no autoantibody production, slightly higher insulin levels, and a median genetic risk score that was 18% lower. Despite this, they still experience insulin deficiency and a higher risk of type 1 diabetes compared to non-diabetic individuals. Notably, features typical of type 2 or malnutrition-related diabetes were absent.

Researchers including Silvana Obici from Stony Brook Medicine in New York contend that the predominant form of diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa is fundamentally different from classic type 1 diabetes.

The research team additionally compared their findings with data from over 3,000 participants in the US from the Search for diabetes in youth study. Autoantibody-negative type 1 diabetes was identified in only 15% of Black American participants and 9% of White American participants. Intriguingly, among Black Americans without autoantibodies, the genetic risk for type 1 diabetes was similarly low as that observed in the African cohort. This indicates that among White individuals, autoantibody absence does not equate to a non-autoimmune form of diabetes.

The presence of this new non-autoimmune diabetes subtype among both Black Africans and Black Americans highlights the potential influence of both genetic and environmental factors. Some hypotheses suggest it could be linked to an unidentified gene that induces “beta cell vulnerability,” as noted by Soumya Adhikari from Texas Children’s Health. Other possibilities include chronic infections, childhood malnutrition, environmental toxins disrupting beta cells, or the existence of atypical autoantibodies.

This emerging diabetes subtype may necessitate tailored treatment protocols, emphasizing the need for further research, according to Dana Douberry at the Colorado School of Public Health.

“Currently, insulin remains the primary treatment for this new diabetes subtype due to insulin insufficiency,” Katt acknowledges. However, identifying the fundamental causes of these subtypes is critical for improved management, asserts Daverea.

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In 2024, We Experienced a Record High of Dangerous Hot and Humid Days.

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Shanghai endured extreme heat and humidity for days in 2024

Reuters/Nicoco Chan

SEI 262102987 — Shanghai endured extreme heat and humidity for days in 2024

Reuters/Nicoco Chan

The Earth recorded an unprecedented number of hazardous hot and humid days in 2024, as climate change escalates global humidity to alarming levels.

The worldwide average of humid heat days on land surpassed the 1991-2020 average, reaching 35.6 days last year, an increase of over 9.5 days from the previous record in 2023. Climate Report 2024 Status published by the American Weather Society.

Under hot and humid conditions, it is challenging for individuals to cool down, as moist air diminishes the evaporative cooling impact of sweating. Such weather poses serious risks to human health. Kate Willett from the UK Met Office, who contributed to the report, states, “Your body starts to struggle to shed heat, making it very dangerous.”

Meteorologists measure heat and humidity using “wet bulb temperature.” This is typically done by wrapping a wet cloth around a thermometer bulb, demonstrating the cooling effect of evaporated water. The readings indicate temperatures lower than in a dry bulb, as high humidity limits the cooling effect of evaporation and brings the wet bulb temperature closer to that of dry air.

As the globe heats up, the atmosphere can retain more moisture, leading to increased heavy rainfall, storms, and higher humidity levels. Willett describes 2024 as “exceptionally” humid, second only to 2023 due to higher moisture levels.

Specific regions, including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and East China, have reached 31°C (88°F) within a short time span, with wet bulb temperatures exceeding 84°F multiple times, according to the report. At these levels, extended exposure outdoors is deemed extremely perilous and potentially lethal.

Traditionally, scientists consider a wet bulb temperature of 35°C the threshold for human survival, as people cannot withstand outdoor conditions for more than a few hours before succumbing. However, research published in 2022 suggests that the actual limit may be lower, around 31°C. “Over 30°C, your body really struggles,” Willett explains.

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Why There’s No Consensus on the Implications of Quantum Physics

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

What does interpretation mean in quantum theory?

ShutterStock/Cyber Magic Man

If you were to poll a thousand physicists, you’d find no consensus. This assertion applies to a multitude of subjects, including the nature of the universe, the composition of dark matter, and the quest for perfectly efficient wiring. Recently, the team at Nature raised inquiries that sharply delineated the field’s divisions. They conducted a survey of 1,100 physicists regarding their preferred interpretations of quantum mechanics. The outcome? They exhibited “significant disagreement.”

This does not surprise me. In my reporting, I frequently encounter physicists who interpret the results of quantum experiments in varied ways. They might all analyze the same equation or experimental outcome but arrive at different narratives about reality.

So, how significant is this discord, and what does the quest for interpretation really entail? To begin with, it’s peculiar how things unfold within quantum mechanics, a discipline we’ve explored for over a century amid a plethora of unfortunate tests. There’s no denying the robust success of quantum mechanics, a remarkable framework governing the actions of the extremely small or the extremely cold. This theory not only passes all evaluations with distinction but also leads to technological innovations like transistors that power electronic devices and fiber optics for the internet. “Quantum mechanics is remarkably successful, both theoretically and practically,” asserts Peter Lewis from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.

However, while physicists can articulate equations and construct devices, if I may put it bluntly, they don’t always agree on what these equations signify. They fail to reach consensus on how quantum mechanics describes the observable realities of our world. Research published in Nature indicates that the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics discourages contemplation on the nature of quantum entities, prompting physicists to focus merely on calculations. Others endorse the many-worlds interpretation, which necessitates belief in an infinitely expansive universe or a hyper-deterministic theory. Notably, only 24% of physicists expressed complete confidence in their chosen interpretations.

Discrepancies also surfaced regarding fundamental aspects of quantum theory, such as wave functions, the enigmatic link between particles referred to as quantum entanglements, and the iconic double-slit experiment that confirmed all matter possesses hidden wave-like attributes. “Moreover, some scientists, even those in similar camps, exhibit varied understandings of their chosen interpretations,” Elizabeth Gibney highlighted in her analysis of the research.

Lewis observes that this scenario—a blend of extraordinary technical advancement and complete philosophical bewilderment—is unparalleled in the annals of science. Navigating this situation remains a challenge. Some physicists perceive it as a discredit to the field, while others argue it’s a positive aspect of scientific diversity. I found myself wrestling with the term “interpretation” to discern which viewpoint I align with the most. What does this term actually imply, and what criteria make an interpretation viable or competitive? Ultimately, I returned to the source material.

“For me, interpreting quantum mechanics transcends mere physics; it veers into philosophy or perhaps psychology,” noted Jeffrey Harvey from the University of Chicago. I recall his class as being a mathematical challenge, and I vividly remember the excitement of discovering that the waves in the abstract Hilbert space “exist.” However, I struggle to remember any clear arguments surrounding the interpretations of the complex mathematical outcomes we examined. Harvey expresses hesitance in teaching various interpretations, citing competition from established “mental models” over experimentally discernible frameworks. When two interpretations stem from the same equation and yield identical experimental predictions, why favor one over the other? “This reflects an agnostic stance. I’d prefer to keep an open mind rather than feel compelled to choose,” Harvey explained.

Jontae Hans, located at the University of Newcastle in the UK, contends that the term interpretation is often utilized too broadly. Some interpretations effectively extend quantum mechanics by adding or modifying core equations. “The challenge lies in the fact that interpretations are viewed differently, as well as the specific issues faced by quantum mechanics,” Lewis states. The Nature survey revealed respondents’ insights across eight interpretations, some of which augment the foundational quantum mechanics rules, while others simplify them, leaving the question of their necessity open for debate, as seen in the Copenhagen interpretation.

To grasp this distinction, consider the famous Schrödinger equation. This is the equation physicists employ to predict outcomes related to quantum objects. Several interpretations of quantum mechanics (e.g., the many-worlds interpretation) rely on the original Schrödinger equation as it was initially formulated. Conversely, a theory termed “decoherence” seeks to uncover why quantum effects are infrequently observed in our macroscopic world, incorporating additional symbols and numbers into the Schrödinger equation that signify new physical processes. Hans asserts that this technically renders the latter an extension rather than merely an interpretation. In such cases, experimental tests could potentially reveal whether our reality necessitates modification of the Schrödinger equation.

This could provide evidence compelling researchers like Harvey to abandon agnosticism. Hans suggests that a successful extension of quantum mechanics could explain numerous experiments whose predictions are already highly accurate, while also insisting that different interpretations can yield clearly distinct and testable predictions.

At the same time, all three researchers acknowledged that many physicists manage to perform their daily tasks without delving into the complexities of quantum mechanics interpretations. This partly explains why my class with Harvey didn’t cover quantum mechanical interpretations; I was primarily taught how to apply the theory. “I don’t perceive it as a problem in terms of innovation and applications in most areas of quantum mechanics. [Interpretation] is mainly a philosophical concern,” Lewis remarks.

Nonetheless, it doesn’t mean that interpretations lack merit, even when competing interpretations don’t yield differing experimental predictions. “While physicists may find interpretations less integral to physics, they can significantly influence how innovative ideas emerge. In that regard, I believe the diversity of mental models fosters exploration of new concepts arising from quantum mechanics,” says Harvey.

Moreover, even philosophical perspectives hold weight, especially regarding the growth of quantum mechanics. For Lewis, this historically unprecedented divide between utility and meaning in quantum mechanics might offer insights into the limitations of science and the philosophical boundaries regarding what can or cannot be understood. The fact that quantum mechanics, a mathematical model explaining the world exceptionally well, still lacks consensus on its significance is telling.

Hans similarly argues that assigning meaning is a fundamental aspect of physics. When discussing this, they often reference social media posts from people like Elon Musk. While I may not have seen them, I’m struck by the tremendous simplifications in their claims. “For me… it’s all about developing equations; it’s about engineering. While some are inclined to pursue engineering careers, I haven’t followed that path. This doesn’t imply engineers lack curiosity; rather, I feel some tension stemming from existential concerns. It’s a question that has kept physicists awake for centuries, and it will likely persist into the future.

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The Extraordinary Impact of Nature on Our Brains Uncovered in a New Book

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Spend time in green spaces to enhance working memory and attention.

Luke Hayes/Millennium Images, UK

Nature and the Heart

Mark Berman (Vermillion, UK; S&S/Simon Element, USA)

Mark Berman is on the verge of initiating a transformation, and I consider myself already aligned with his vision. You might have encountered his insights in New Scientist regarding the remarkable advantages of nature walks, the therapeutic impact of plants, and the enchantment of urban greenery.

If this sounds familiar, you may presume that Berman’s Research couldn’t offer anything new. However, you would be mistaken. Nature and the Heart caters to everyone, regardless of prior knowledge. It’s designed not only to inform and entertain but also to motivate action.

This narrative outlines how a once troubled boy forged a groundbreaking field in environmental neuroscience by transitioning from law studies pursued under his mother’s nursing influence and his father’s legal career to engineering as an undergraduate student.

Central to this is a fortuitous encounter between psychologists Steve and Rachel Kaplan from the University of Michigan, who introduced attentional restoration theory (ART). This concept posits that engaging with nature can help regain our focus, and by the time Berman met them as a graduate student, Kaplan had already amassed substantial evidence to support this theory.

Berman’s audacious plan involved quantifying these effects by analyzing people, their environments, and their interactions through methods including brain imaging, behavioral testing, computational neuroscience, and statistical analyses.

In his book, Berman reflects on his initial experimental proposal, met with skepticism from John Jonides, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Michigan, who said, “It’s crazy. It won’t work.”

The author champions a revolution to ‘naturize’ our homes, schools, offices, and cities.

Yet, Berman persevered, uncovering astonishing findings. A mere 50-minute walk in a park significantly improved individuals’ working memory and attention by 20%, irrespective of their enjoyment of the experience or the weather conditions. Remarkably, it was unnecessary for them to actually walk.

This improvement is notable, but why is attention restoration necessary? As Berman highlights, attention is a crucial resource for many cognitive and emotional functions, and our attention is often drained by an overstimulating environment. By restoring this resource, nature acts as a superpower, enhancing intelligence, happiness, reducing stress, increasing productivity, and fostering compassion.

Some of Berman’s discoveries are breathtaking. For instance, individuals suffering from clinical depression gained fivefold benefits from a walk in the park compared to participants in the original study. Moreover, having ten additional trees on a block in Toronto increased residents’ perception of well-being by 1%.

His research also leads to delightful and innovative findings. In one study, his team employed the JPEG standard in digital image compression to analyze how the human brain processes information regarding natural landscapes versus urban settings. This research demonstrated that urban and natural images with similar complexity levels taxed the brain differently, with nature being less taxing. They even created an app to provide “repair scores” for nearby walking routes.

Berman’s research addresses significant inquiries. How does nature capture attention? What scene elements encourage recovery? How can architecture leverage these effects? It also tackles intriguing questions, such as the allure of galley-style fonts (inspired by the curves of serif typefaces) and the appeal of Jackson Pollock’s abstract paintings (which reflect fractals).

Above all, he is driven by a desire to effect positive change. His work serves as a call to action, urging the implementation of a “natural revolution.” “We should fundamentally reevaluate the design of all constructed spaces,” he advocates. “The natural revolution necessitates a serious commitment from people on a grand scale.”

Living at High Altitudes Could Help Combat Obesity

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Research reveals obesity rates among children in Colombia’s hilly capital, Bogotá

Guillermo Legaria/Getty Images

A study involving over 4 million children in Colombia suggests that living at high altitudes may help in preventing obesity.

This outcome is consistent with existing research. Higher altitudes are thought to reduce obesity, potentially due to increased energy expenditure at lower oxygen levels. Most studies, however, have focused primarily on adults.

To explore the effect on children, Fernando Lizcano Rosada from Lhasavanna University in Chia, Colombia, along with his team analyzed data concerning 4.16 million children from municipalities up to age 5, sourced from the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare.

The participants were categorized into four groups based on the altitudes where they resided.

In two low-altitude areas, about 80 out of every 10,000 children were classified as obese. In contrast, at altitudes of 3,000 meters or higher since 2001, this rate dropped to 40 per 10,000.

However, at elevations above 3,000 meters, the prevalence rose again, reaching 86 out of 10,000. The researchers caution that this might be a statistical anomaly since it is based on data from only seven municipalities and 11,498 individuals, substantially fewer than the data for the other altitude groups.

“That’s a valid observation,” states David Stencel from Loughborough University, UK. He notes that a dose-response relationship would have strengthened the findings.

Stencel also underscores that the study is observational, meaning it does not definitively prove that high altitudes reduce obesity risk. “The research takes into account various confounding factors,” he explains, including measures of poverty. Yet, he adds, “we cannot account for everything.”

Nevertheless, he sees this research as a promising commencement. “It establishes a relationship that calls for more tailored studies to verify the hypothesis independently.”

Lizcano Rosada posits that metabolism may be heightened at higher altitudes, leading to increased energy expenditure.

This claim is plausible, Stencel agrees. “Some studies indicate that resting metabolic rates may be elevated at high altitudes,” he notes. For instance, a 1984 study found that climbers tended to lose more weight at high altitudes partly because fat from food was burned or expelled before being stored as tissue.

More recent studies suggest that lower oxygen levels may lead to accelerated metabolism and increased levels of leptin, the hormone related to satiety, while levels of ghrelin, often associated with hunger, are reduced.

If it is indeed true that high altitude diminishes obesity risk, Stencel notes that the practical application of this knowledge in combating obesity remains ambiguous. Nonetheless, Lizcano Rosada asserts that personalized advice could be beneficial, acknowledging that diverse environmental factors contribute to obesity across various locales.

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Can’t Afford It? Viewers Turn to Piracy as Streaming Services Fall Short

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

wI recently planned a trip to Florence, and all I can think about is re-watching Medici. This historical drama from 2016 chronicles the rise of the influential Florentine dynasty during the Renaissance. Until just a few years ago, accessing Netflix granted me a treasure trove of both acclaimed and obscure titles. Yet now, if you search for the show in 2025, Netflix links lead to empty pages. It won’t show up on HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV+, or smaller platforms either. Amazon Prime requires a separate purchase for each of the three seasons or 24 episodes. These episodes are stored in a library that could be deleted overnight. For the first time in a decade, I find myself nostalgic for the days when I relied on the Swedish Torrent Index, a land of digital piracy, and I know I’m not alone.

During my teenage years in the 2000s, torrents were my go-to. Need the latest Coldplay album for your iPod? Pirate Bay. Looking for the 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet? Pirate Bay. Everything I wanted was just a few clicks away. But as smartphones gained popularity, so did Spotify, the Swedish music streaming service. Interestingly, the same country that hosted illegal torrents also presented a solution.

“Spotify wouldn’t exist without the Pirate Bay,” remarked Sundin, the managing director of Universal Music Wedden at the time, reflecting in 2011. Yet, while I could legally enjoy the music, I once engaged with torrents. When Netflix arrived in Sweden in late 2012, conversations around torrenting films faded. A vast array of large shows and award-winning films was suddenly available for just 79 SEK (£6) per month. Meanwhile, the three founders of Pirate Bay faced arrest and imprisonment. To me, piracy seemed a thing of the past.

Fast forward ten and a half years since the Pirate Bay Trial, and the winds have shifted. On a surprisingly warm summer day, I found myself with fellow film critics in the Old Town Port—a location rich with smuggling lore—discussing the “enshitification” of streaming. This term describes how platforms deteriorate as they prioritize profits over service quality. Netflix’s monthly rate soared to over 199 SEK (£15), and accessing the same shows previously found in one place now often necessitates multiple subscriptions. Nowadays, many streaming services force users into ad-supported plans despite their fees. Local restrictions may even compel users to employ a VPN to unlock the full range of available content. On average, European households now spend nearly 700 euros (£600) annually on three or more VOD subscriptions—receiving less for more.

One film critic shared anonymously, “I never stopped pirating; if I’m unable to find what I’m looking for on DVD, my partner will too.” While some have never shied away from copyright infringement, others have admitted to recently returning to it. This time, the focus is on unofficial streaming platforms. One prevalent app is legal, yet users can access illegal streams through accompanying community add-ons. “Downloading is overly complicated; I wouldn’t even know where to begin,” remarked one viewer. “The shadowy streams might bombard me with ads, but at least I don’t have to worry about being hacked or caught.”

Navigating the vast seas… The Pirate Bay is a file-sharing site based in Sweden. Photo: FocusDigital/Alamy

Unlicensed streaming remains a significant source of copyright infringement in TV and film, as reported by Muso, a London-based copyright infringement company. In 2023, it accounted for 96%. Copyright infringement figures remained low in 2020, with 130 billion website visits but soared to 21.6 billion by 2024. In Sweden, 25% of respondents reported pirated content in 2024, a trend primarily observed among those aged 15 to 24. Copyright infringement has resurfaced, albeit under a new guise.

“Piracy isn’t merely about pricing,” stated Gabe Newell, co-founder of Valve, the driving force behind Steam, the largest PC gaming platform. He noted in 2011, “It’s fundamentally a service issue.” Nowadays, the streaming crisis underscores this reality. Content is fragmented, prices escalate, and bitrate restrictions vary by browser. It’s no surprise that viewers are once again gravitating towards more accessible options. Studios impose territorial limitations and impose tolls for access, resulting in an artificial scarcity in a digital age that promised abundance.

Rebellion or resignation may seem irrelevant. The sails can either be raised or lowered as streaming platforms fragment into isolated territories. Increasingly, viewers are journeying back to the digital high seas. Medici comprehended the value intrinsic to access. Clients traveled from as far as Rome to London, maintaining relationships through a system based on trust and integration. If current studios aspire to weather the storm, they must rediscover this vital truth.

Body Fat Levels May Indicate Mortality Risk in Young Adults – Sciworthy

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Researchers have established a connection between being overweight or obese and various illnesses and health issues. Heart disease, some types of cancer, and additional conditions such as mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Beyond specific diseases, obesity is also associated with an increased risk of premature death.

Health organizations in the US and around the world utilize the Body Mass Index, or BMI, to assess whether individuals are overweight or obese. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization both classify overweight as having a BMI over 25 and obesity as a BMI exceeding 30. In simple terms, a person who is 1.8 meters tall (approximately 5’11”) and weighs 90.7 kilograms (about 200 lbs) has a BMI of 28.

While doctors recognize that BMI can serve as a valuable metric in healthcare, some point out its limitations. Athletes with considerable muscle mass may be classified as overweight due to their muscle’s greater weight compared to fat. Additionally, body fat percentages can vary based on ethnicity and gender, suggesting that the standard BMI approach may not accurately reflect every individual’s health.

Recently, researchers from the University of Florida explored whether alternative body composition measurements provide a better prediction of mortality risk in young adults compared to BMI. They analyzed data from the National Health Nutrition Test Survey (NHANES), which was conducted in the US between 1999 and 2004 and connects to an index that indicates if participants had passed away by 2020. The study included data from 4,252 adults aged 20 to 49.

The researchers assessed whether high BMI, elevated body fat percentage, or increased waist circumference were more effective predictors of mortality within 15 years. They defined higher-risk body composition as (1) a BMI over 25, categorizing this as overweight or obese. Causes of mortality they investigated included deaths from any cause, referred to as all causes, heart disease, and cancer.

Findings revealed that body fat percentage is a stronger predictor of mortality in young adults than BMI. Specifically, there was no statistically significant link between overweight or obese BMI and cancer-related or all-cause mortality. In contrast, both high body fat percentage and large waist circumference were significantly related to deaths from all causes and heart disease. However, none of the three body composition measurements were found to be statistically related to cancer mortality.

Researchers acknowledged certain limitations in their study. First, the body fat percentage thresholds they applied were derived from another research and are not universally accepted metrics like BMI. Second, as they focused solely on mortality risk in young adults, BMI could still be a strong mortality predictor in older adults. Lastly, while they observed mortality rates, various diseases and health issues, such as cardiovascular disease, are still linked to higher BMI.

Nevertheless, the research team concluded that BMI may not provide a comprehensive view of body composition, suggesting that other measures, such as body fat percentage, could be more beneficial in healthcare settings. They proposed that future studies should investigate these findings in older populations and explore additional health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease.

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Source: sciworthy.com

Philippa James: Captivating Moments of a Teenage TikTok Star | Best Photos

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

This began as a project involving my daughter and her friend. Being part of the smartphone generation, they were both 14 at the time and eager to explore their relationship with mobile devices. According to Ofcom’s 2022 research, nine out of ten children owned a smartphone by age 11, and by age 12, 91% were using video platforms, messaging apps, and social media. I discussed the negative perceptions surrounding mobile phones, teenagers, and screens with them. They shared that social media can both enhance confidence and diminish it.

I asked if I could take a photo. I didn’t provide much direction; instead of capturing them in a typical portrait style, I simply observed their interactions. The energy was vibrant: they moved swiftly, danced to short music clips, filmed one another, laughed, scrolled, chatted, took selfies, and rehearsed TikTok dances. I struggled to keep pace with their excitement. This image, titled TikTok, emerged from our session. I quickly directed Lucy to glance at me, capturing the moment just before they transitioned to the next activity. As a portrait photographer, you develop an instinct for certain shots, and I felt this one was special.

While editing, I reflected on how girls utilize their phones for visual communication, as theorized by Nathan Jurgenson, who refers to it as “Social Photography.” This concept emphasizes that photos are more about social interaction than mere objects, moving away from traditional photography’s intent of documentation or archiving, focusing instead on sharing moments visually.

Spending time with the girls revealed the darker aspects of mobile usage. I showcased this project as a continuing exhibition in Oxford, working with focus groups of teenage girls who shared their experiences regarding online sexism and sexual harassment. Some of the stories I learned were quite shocking. The final work incorporates photographs alongside handwritten testimonials.

To deepen my research, I explored the writings of activists Laura Bates and Soma Sarah. Initially, the project title was inconsequential, but as it evolved, I changed it to a catchy phrase from a TikTok soundbite my daughter had shared with me. This shift evoked feelings of protectiveness and annoyance as a mother and a feminist. Although the title may be discomforting, it serves to capture attention and foster awareness.

This photo embodies multiple layers of meaning. It is beautiful and captivating, capturing a remarkable moment that celebrates the joy of girls in their generation, and reflects the essence of their world. These teenage years are fleeting, and the joy they share is essential to witness in a safe environment.

Additionally, the image invites viewers to notice the dynamic gaze between the three girls. Lucy not only looks directly at the camera but also interacts with the viewer through her expression and stance. As a mother and a photographer, my perspective evolves with ongoing research. The viewers’ perceptions may mirror their experiences as teenagers, which introduces a fascinating tension into the conversation surrounding this subject.

The girl in my mind is now 17 years old. Much has happened in the world since that photo was taken, including the rise of figures like Andrew Tate, who gained notoriety even as our children were already aware of him. Recently, themes addressed in Netflix series have sparked broader societal discussions.

Just this week, my mom reached out to discuss “short skirts.” The conflict between my role as a mother and a woman often feels intricate. As a protective instinct kicks in, I question why women shouldn’t wear what they choose. Sadly, young women today face risks merely by possessing a smartphone, in a world that remains unfamiliar to us parents.

Phillippa James’ Resume

Photo: Philippa James

Born: Bus, 1978
Trained: Kent (2000) in Art and Moving Image; Falmouth Photography MA (2023)
Influences: “The inspiration from Rineke Dijkstra, Miranda July, Lynne Ramsay, Tracey Emin, Abigail Heyman, Cindy Sherman, Samantha Morton, Catherine McCormack, Robert Altman’s film Short Cuts, and Lisa Taddeo’s book.”
Career Highlight: “Last year, I was honored to be selected for the Taylor Wessing Portrait Award and exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery, with funding from the Arts Council England to further develop my practice. I also received LensCulture’s Emerging Talent Award.
Career Low Point: “In 2020, I faced public backlash for including trans women in my first personal project, 100 Women in Oxford, which led to protests against the exhibition. This experience taught me invaluable lessons about responsibility, expression, and the emotional impact of capturing real people.”
Top Tip: “Stay committed to your work, reflect on your creations, and keep producing. Photography may seem easy, but it’s challenging; consistency is key.”

UK Traffic to Popular Adult Sites Declines Following Introduction of Age Verification

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Since the implementation of stringent age verification measures last month, visits to popular adult websites in the UK have seen a significant decline, according to recent data.

Daily traffic to PornHub, the most frequented porn site in the UK, dropped by 47%, from 3.6 million on July 24 to 1.9 million on August 8.

Data from digital market intelligence firm Sircerweb indicates that the next popular platforms, Xvideos and Xhamster, also experienced declines of 47% and 39% during the same period.

As reported initially by the Financial Times, this downturn seems to reflect the enforcement of strict age verification rules commencing on July 25 under the Online Safety Act. However, social media platforms implementing similar age checks for age-restricted materials, like X and Reddit, did not experience similar traffic declines.

A representative from Pornhub remarked, “As we have observed in various regions globally, compliant sites often see a decrease in traffic, while non-compliant ones may see an increase.”

The Online Safety Act aims to shield children from harmful online content, mandating that any site or app providing pornographic material must prevent access by minors.

Ofcom, the overseeing body for this law in the UK, endorses age verification methods such as: verifying age via credit card providers, banks, or mobile network operators; matching photo ID with a live selfie; or using a “digital identity wallet” for age verification.

Additionally, the law requires platforms to block access to content that could be harmful to children, including materials that incite self-harm or promote dangerous behaviors, which has sparked tension over concerns of excessive regulation.

Ofcom contends that the law does not infringe upon freedom of expression, highlighting clauses intended to protect free speech. Non-compliance can lead to penalties ranging from formal warnings to fines amounting to 10% of global revenue, with serious violations potentially resulting in websites being blocked in the UK.

Nigel Farage’s Reform British Party has vowed to repeal the act following the age verification requirement, igniting a heated exchange where the technology secretary, Peter Kyle, was accused by Farage of making inappropriate comments.

The implementation of age checks has accordingly led to a surge in virtual private network (VPN) downloads, as users seek to circumvent national restrictions on certain websites. VPN applications frequently dominate the top five spots in Apple’s App Store.

Scientists Encourage Use of Hair-Based Toothpaste: Here’s Why.

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

If your teeth are facing damage, innovative toothpastes may soon appear on the market in the coming years. Some of their ingredients may surprise you.

Toothpaste derived from your own hair could offer an effective and eco-friendly method to safeguard and restore damaged tooth enamel during the initial stages of decay, according to new research from King’s College London.

The research team has found that keratin, a protein present in hair, skin, and nails, creates protective layers that emulate the structure and function of natural tooth enamel when interacting with saliva. In their experiments, scientists extracted keratin from animal wool, which is similar to human hair.

The Science Behind the Hair Toothpaste: Explainer (Credit: King’s College London)

Enamel loss and decay are ongoing issues for dental professionals. Factors such as acidic food and drinks, aging, and inadequate oral hygiene contribute to the gradual deterioration of the teeth’s protective layer.

This deterioration can result in tooth sensitivity, discomfort, and, ultimately, tooth loss. “Unlike bone and hair, enamel does not regenerate,” states Dr. Sherif Elshalkawi, Senior Author and Consultant of Prosthetics at King’s College London. “Once lost, it is gone forever.”

While fluoride toothpaste can help slow the process, this groundbreaking keratin-based solution has shown potential to stop it completely.

When combined with naturally occurring minerals in saliva, it forms a dense crystal-like layer that shields teeth, sealing off exposed nerve channels. As these nerves are responsible for sensitivity, this novel treatment not only aids in preventing enamel breakdown but also alleviates current symptoms.

This research has been published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, detailing how scientists extracted keratin from animal wool to form a structured scaffold on the teeth that continues to attract calcium and phosphate ions, ultimately creating a protective enamel-like coat.

This substance can be used daily in regular toothpaste or applied professionally as a gel, similar to nail polish, for targeted restorative treatment. El Sharkawi suggests that this affordable, sustainable method could be available to the public in the next two to three years.

“Keratin presents a revolutionary alternative to existing dental care practices,” comments Sara Gamea, a doctoral researcher at King’s College and lead author of the study.

“It not only draws on biological waste such as hair and skin for a continuous supply but also reduces reliance on conventional plastic resins often used in restorative dentistry, which are harmful and less durable.”

“Keratin also offers a more natural appearance than these alternatives, as it can better match the original tooth color.”

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Top Image: Dr. Sherif Elshalkawi presents the animal wool utilized in this groundbreaking treatment (credit: King’s College London)

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Early Homo and Australian Ropithecus Lived Together in Ethiopia 2.5 Million Years Ago

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Recently discovered human fossils from the Ledi-Geraru Research Project in a remote region of Ethiopia indicate an early presence of Homo around 2.78 million years ago and a previously unidentified species, Australian, dating back 2.63 million years.

Forensic facial reconstruction of Australopithecus afarensis. Image credit: Cicero Moraes/CC by-sa 3.0.

The timeline from approximately 3 to 2 million years ago represents crucial phases in human evolution.

This encompasses the genus Homo and Paran Solo Pass, which first appeared in fossil records alongside the ancestors of Australopithecus afarensis, a species that eventually vanished.

“We typically viewed human evolution as a linear trajectory from ape-like ancestors to modern humans. However, Homo sapiens researcher Brian Villmoare from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, states that our understanding must adapt.”

“Humans have diversified into various niches multiple times throughout our history.”

“Our evolutionary tree reflects patterns not unique to us. Similar events occurred across different life forms.”

“This is something we should observe more frequently in the record of human fossils.”

“Nature has explored numerous paths toward humanity, particularly as climates became drier in East Africa, leading to the extinction of more ape-like species.”

Dr. Villmoare and his co-authors uncovered 13 human teeth at the Ledi-Geraru site in Ethiopia.

They determined that while some fossils belong to the genus Homo, others include upper and lower teeth sets from an unnamed species, Australian.

This new species differs from Australopithecus afarensis, which was first identified nearby at Khadar around 2.95 million years ago.

“The coexistence of both species in the same area suggests that human evolution resembles a branching tree rather than a linear progression,” said Dr. Villmoare.

The Ledi-Geraru site is also where paleontologists discovered the earliest jaw of Homo in 2013, dating back 2.8 million years.

“Recent findings of Homo teeth from sediments aged between 2 and 2.8 million years confirm the timeline of our lineage,” stated Dr. Villmoare.

“We know what the earliest teeth and jaws of Homo look like, but our findings extend beyond that.”

“This underscores the critical need for additional fossil discoveries to differentiate between Australian and Homo, and to explore potential overlaps in their fossil records.”

“There has been considerable geological activity in this region,” noted Dr. Christopher Campizzano, a geologist at Arizona State University.

“Numerous volcanic eruptions released ashes containing feldspar crystals, allowing scientists to date them.”

“We can date the eruptions that occurred in the landscape where these fossils were found.”

“These fossils are situated between volcanic deposits, facilitating age determination.”

“We are dating the volcanic ash from eruptions that coincided with the deposition of these fossils.”

“As this new research highlights, this was a pivotal era for human evolution,” said Professor Ramon Arrowsmith from Arizona State University.

“Geology provides critical insights into the age and characteristics of sedimentary layers, including those containing fossils.”

“Whenever an exciting new discovery occurs, paleontologists recognize that further information is essential,” commented Dr. Kay Reid, a paleontologist at Arizona State University.

“We need more fossils, which emphasizes the importance of training individuals to explore and identify new fossil sites.”

“The more fossils we uncover, the better we can understand our distant ancestors and the unique journey of survival that led to our existence.”

The findings are documented in a publication released today in the journal Nature.

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B. Billmoare et al. New discoveries of Australian and Homo from Ledi-Geraru, Ethiopia. Nature, published online August 13, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09390-4

Source: www.sci.news

Can Exoplanets Orbiting TRAPPIST-1 and Other Red Dwarfs Support Life?

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A protective atmosphere, a welcoming sun, and abundant liquid water make Earth a remarkable place. Leveraging the extraordinary capabilities of the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers are on a mission to uncover just how unique and extraordinary our planet truly is. Is it possible for a temperate environment to exist elsewhere, perhaps around a different type of star? The TRAPPIST-1 system offers an intriguing opportunity to explore this question, as it contains seven Earth-sized planets orbiting red dwarf stars—the most common type in the Milky Way.

The artist’s concept depicts TRAPPIST-1d passing in front of a turbulent star, showing the other planets in the background. Image credits: NASA/ESA/CSA/Joseph Olmsted, STSCI.

TRAPPIST-1 is a super cool dwarf star situated 38.8 light-years away in the constellation Aquarius.

These stars are slightly larger than Jupiter, comprising only 8% of our Sun’s mass. They rotate quickly and emit UV energy flares.

TRAPPIST-1 is home to seven transiting planets designated TRAPPIST-1b, c, d, e, f, g, and h.

All these planets are similar in size to Earth and Venus, or marginally smaller, with very brief orbital periods of 1.51, 2.42, 4.04, 6.06, 9.21, 12.35, and 20 days, respectively.

They may all be tidally locked, meaning the same side always faces their star, akin to how the same side of the moon is always turned towards Earth. This results in a permanently night side and a permanently day side for each TRAPPIST-1 planet.

“Ultimately, we aim to discover whether similar environments to those we enjoy on Earth exist elsewhere, and under what conditions they might thrive,” stated Dr. Caroline Piaulett Graeb, an astronomer at the University of Chicago and the Trottia Institute for Planetary Research.

“At this stage, we can exclude TRAPPIST-1d as a potential twin or cousin of Earth, even as Webb enables us to investigate Earth-sized planets for the first time.”

Dr. Piaulet-Ghorayeb and her team utilized Webb’s NIRSpec (near-infrared spectroscopy) instrument to capture the transmission spectra of the TRAPPIST-1d planet.

They found no common molecules typically present in Earth’s atmosphere, such as water, methane, or carbon dioxide.

However, they have outlined several possibilities for the exoplanet that warrant further investigation.

“There are multiple reasons we might not detect an atmosphere around TRAPPIST-1d,” Dr. Piaulet-Ghorayeb mentioned.

“It may have a very thin atmosphere, similar to Mars, which is challenging to identify.”

“Alternatively, thick, high-altitude clouds may obscure certain atmospheric signatures.”

“Or it could be a barren rock with no atmosphere whatsoever.”

In any case, TRAPPIST-1d faces challenges as a planet orbiting a red dwarf star.

TRAPPIST-1, the host star of the system, is known for its volatility and often emits high-energy radiation flares that can strip away the atmosphere of nearby small planets.

Nevertheless, scientists remain eager to search for atmospheric signs on the TRAPPIST-1 planets, as red dwarfs are the most prevalent stars in our galaxy.

If these planets can retain an atmosphere here, it suggests they could potentially do so anywhere, even under the harsh conditions of stellar radiation.

“Webb’s sensitive infrared instruments allow us to probe into the atmospheres of these small, cold planets for the first time,” said Dr. Bjorn Beneke, an astronomer at the Institute for Planetary Research at Montreal University.

“We are using Webb to identify atmospheres on Earth-sized planets and define the thresholds between those that can and cannot sustain an atmosphere.”

Results will be published in Astrophysical Journal.

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Caroline Piaulett Graeb et al. 2025. Restrictive conditions on the potential secondary atmosphere of the temperate rocky exoplanet TRAPPIST-1d. APJ 989, 181; doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ADF207

Source: www.sci.news

Fossilized Teeth Might Belong to a Newly Discovered Species of Early Hominins

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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Model of Australopithecus Hominin

Credit: Cro Magnon/Alamy

In Ethiopia, 13 human teeth have been found within volcanic ash layers dating between 26 to 2.8 million years ago. Researchers indicate that some of these teeth are attributed to the genus Homo, hinting that others may belong to a newly identified human lineage, suggesting a coexistence of both species.

“They shared resources and everything was fine,” says Kay Reed from Arizona State University. “I cannot be certain at this point.”

Previous finds suggested that early members of several Homo species existed in this region about 3 million years ago, including Australopithecus afarensis, the species of the well-known Lucy Fossil.

The emergence of the first representatives of the genus Homo around 2.5 million years ago showcases characteristics increasingly reminiscent of modern human traits. So, what unfolded during that period? To delve into this, Reid and her colleagues have been excavating at Ledi-Geraru, an area rich with volcanic deposits from this pivotal epoch.

In 2013, her team unearthed a chin from a 2.8 million-year-old Homo species, pushing back the timeline for the origin of this genus. Recently, her team identified 13 teeth across three distinct layers of ash.

The oldest and youngest dental specimens (dated 2.79 and 2.59 million years) also belong to the genus Homo, as per the team’s findings. Nevertheless, they postulate that the teeth from the middle layer (dated 2.63 million years) are from Australopithecus. All excavation sites are within a kilometer of one another.

“We anticipated discovering more Homo specimens, yet we also encountered Australopithecus,” Reid remarks.

Molar teeth from Ledi-Geraru, possibly from an unidentified Australopithecus species

Brian Billmore: University of Nevada Las Vegas

Moreover, Australopithecus teeth exhibit distinctive features when compared to A. afarensis and other members of the genus, leading the team to speculate that they may belong to a new species. If this hypothesis holds, it indicates a more intricate and expansive evolutionary tree leading to modern humans than previously assumed.

“This is a significant finding,” states John Hawks from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. However, he cautions against drawing firm conclusions based merely on a handful of teeth.

“When fossils span a timeframe of 200,000 years, as these teeth do, it’s challenging to assert that they coexisted,” remarks Hawks. “That’s a vast period.”

There are also concerns about the identification of distinct species from these teeth. “Many fossils exhibit characteristics that overlap with various species. It’s feasible to categorize smaller samples into distinct groups—some resembling Homo and others more akin to Australopithecus,” Hawks explains.

“The issue remains statistical; the measurements do not indicate that these teeth are substantially different. They fall within the overlapping size ranges of early Australopithecus and early Homo species.”

Neanderthals, Ancient Humans, Cave Art: France

Join New Scientist’s Kate Douglas for an enchanting journey through time, exploring significant Neanderthal and Upper Paleolithic sites in southern France, spanning from Bordeaux to Montpellier.

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Small Discs Can Ascend to the Upper Atmosphere Solely Using Solar Energy

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Illustration of a solar-powered levitating disc

Schafer et al. Nature

SEI 261839461 — Illustration of a solar-powered levitating disc

Schafer et al. Nature

A tiny disc, roughly the size of a nail, has the potential to ascend to high altitudes in sunlight while carrying sensors through some of the coldest and thinnest parts of the atmosphere. These swarms, flying higher than commercial aircraft and balloons, could reveal new insights regarding Earth’s evolving weather and climate.

These floating devices harness a phenomenon known as photophoresis. This was initially discovered over 150 years ago when chemist William Crookes invented a radiometer, a device with black and white feathers that spin when they are exposed to sunlight. The wings absorb light and release heat, increasing the momentum of nearby gas molecules. Due to the difference in temperature between the black and white sides of the wings, the black side emits more momentum, allowing the air to flow in one direction with sufficient force to turn the wings.

“We’ve embraced this lesser-known physics to develop applications that could benefit many people, enhancing our understanding of how weather and climate change unfolds over time.” Ben Schafer from Harvard University.

To create the levitating disc, Schafer and his team designed a device that spans 1 cm, composed of two sheets of aluminum oxide filled with microscale holes. When illuminated, the lower sheet, which contains alternating layers of chromium and aluminum oxide, heats up more than the top layer, similar to the black sides of the radiometer blades. This generates a directional airflow that moves upwards instead of sideways.

Under white LED and laser illumination — set to an intensity that mimics about 50% of natural sunlight — this upward force successfully lifted the device. This represents progress over previous solar-powered flyers, which required light intensity significantly brighter than sunlight. However, the tests were conducted under laboratory conditions with air pressure much lower than Earth’s surface pressure.

Fortunately, such low pressure conditions are common at higher altitudes, especially in the Mesosphere, which spans 50-85 km above the Earth. Researchers indicate that increasing the disc’s size to 3 centimeters could enable it to carry a 10-milligram payload to hard-to-reach research areas at altitudes of 75 km. Schafer has co-founded a startup, Rare Feed Technology, aiming to commercialize fleets of these high-flying devices for environmental monitoring and communications.

After sunset, computer modeling indicates that these discs could utilize the heat radiating from Earth’s surface to remain airborne. “If they can stay afloat during the night, that represents a significant advancement instead of simply descending and landing.” Igor Bargatin from the University of Pennsylvania, who is conducting similar research.

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ADHD Medications Lower the Risk of Crimes, Substance Abuse, and Accidents

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

ADHD symptoms can be effectively managed through medication and therapy

Alex Di Stasi/Shutterstock

SEI 261892997 — ADHD symptoms can be effectively managed through medication and therapy

Alex Di Stasi/Shutterstock

A study involving 150,000 participants in Sweden found that individuals using medications to control their symptoms face a diminished risk of suicidal behavior, criminal charges, substance misuse, accidental injuries, and traffic incidents. Prior research supports this, yet the team behind this latest study claims it’s the most substantial evidence available to date.

“This represents the best methodology, akin to a randomized trial,” states Zheng Chang from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.

When considering medications for ADHD management, the wider impact of avoiding these treatments might not be fully recognized, according to Samuelle Cortese from the University of Southampton, UK. He suggests parents often become preoccupied with immediate academic challenges but should also consider potential long-term outcomes.

“Neglecting ADHD can be risky,” he emphasizes. “Current evidence indicates that treatment lowers these risks.”

Individuals with ADHD frequently struggle with attention and exhibit impulsivity. Randomized controlled trials indicate that medications are effective in handling immediate symptoms.

Such trials involve randomly assigning individuals to either receive treatment or not, regarded as the gold standard in medical research. However, no randomized studies have yet evaluated the broader effects of ADHD medications, forcing researchers to rely on observational studies, which do not definitively prove that medication leads to noted behavioral changes.

Recently, Chang, Cortese, and their team executed a method known as target trial emulation. They utilized Swedish medical and legal records to compare patients who began ADHD medication promptly after diagnosis with those who delayed.

The results indicated that those using ADHD medications were 25% less likely to face criminal charges or experience substance problems. They also recorded a 16% reduction in traffic accident involvement, a 15% lower risk for suicide attempts, and a 4% decrease in accidental injuries.

“Understanding if medication can influence daily life beyond mere symptom alleviation is invaluable,” stated Adam Guastella during an interview with the UK Science Media Centre at the University of Sydney, Australia. “This knowledge will also assist governments and policymakers in recognizing the potential societal benefits of comprehensive care, including mental health and criminal justice outcomes.”

If you need someone to talk to, please reach out: UK Samaritans: 116123 (samaritans.org); US 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988 (988lifeline.org). Find more helplines at bit.ly/suicidehelplines for other regions.

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A Jacket That Breaths: Thins Out with Sweat to Prevent Overheating

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The jacket becomes thicker when it dries (left) and thinner when it gets wet (right)

Xiaofeng Jiang/Nanjing Aviation University Astronaut 2023

If you think you’ll be wearing your jacket indefinitely once the sunshine fades, a material that decreases in thickness when you sweat could be a game changer.

Researchers have previously created self-adaptive materials that help cool individuals in high temperatures by emitting excess heat as infrared radiation. However, these materials generally operate in only one direction and are not effective for retaining warmth in cooler environments.

Xiuqiang Li, a Chinese astronaut, along with his team, has crafted a jacket that consists of layers that dry and flatten when wet. This unique property allows the jacket to become thicker in cooler surroundings and thinner in warmer conditions, primarily due to human perspiration. “The amount of sweat produced serves as a timely and straightforward indicator of the body’s actual thermal needs,” notes Li.

The design of the clothing resembles that of standard down jackets but incorporates layers of cellulose derived from bacteria. This is further bolstered with polyester to ensure that the fabric’s outer layer can expand effectively. Li’s team discovered that the cellulose layer does not dry in a predictable manner and remains fixed at a certain angle for up to 12 hours, working effectively after 200 cycles of transitioning from flat to curved.

The team examined how much heat the material emitted while being worn under varying moisture levels. They found it to feel as cool as standard polyester shirts when wet, yet nearly as warm as down jackets when in a similar condition.

These assessments were akin to wearing the material directly against bare skin. “Theoretically, when the material is layered over other clothing items, such as t-shirts, the sweat produced can permeate through these inner layers, potentially triggering a response that causes thinning,” states Xiaofeng Jiang, who is also from Nanjing Aviation University.

With these insights, the team aims to enhance the fibers to ensure they generate enough warmth to be worn without additional layers.

Li believes that scaling up the production of these materials should be feasible, as bacterial cellulose is readily obtainable and cost-effective; however, the team must first confirm that it can withstand the durability expected from conventional clothing.

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mRNA Drugs: A Shield Against Nearly All Viral Infections

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Illustration of a protein complex binding to DNA in the production of vital signaling molecules known as interferons.

Martin McCarthy/Getty Images

Weekly inhaler puffs, similar to those used for asthma, might safeguard you against viral infections that could make winters challenging.

This promising idea stems from encouraging animal studies involving mRNA therapies aimed at activating our natural viral defenses. “We can consider this a universal antiviral agent,” states Dusan Bogunovic from Columbia University in New York.

To fully realize this potential, the development of mRNA technology used in vaccines will be essential, but recent funding cuts in the US for mRNA vaccine initiatives pose a significant concern. “I would be surprised if this doesn’t impact such progress,” Bogunovic mentioned.

Beyond recognizing and neutralizing viruses with antibodies, our bodies have multiple inherent defenses. For instance, upon detecting a viral invasion, cells emit a critical signaling molecule called interferons. This activates around 1000 genes, resulting in the production of various antiviral proteins, each playing distinct protective roles. Some obstruct viral entry into cells and hinder the release of other viral particles.

While not all antiviral proteins are effective against every virus, their strategic combination can yield significant results. “Our innate immune system is remarkably robust,” Bogunovic observes.

Bogunovic points out that the rapid replication of respiratory viruses presents a challenge. However, if the body can proactively prepare these defenses, it could reduce viral replication and ensure that infections remain less severe, even before the immune system fully kicks in.

There were hopes of using interferon as a broad-spectrum antiviral, but the potential for severe side effects warranted caution. Thus, Bogunovic and his team are focusing instead on creating an antiviral agent composed of a select group of 1000 proteins induced by interferons.

They chose 10 specific proteins and introduced them into cells via mRNAs that encode these proteins. The mRNA delivery system allows for temporary protein production within targeted cells, which is critical as preformed proteins are often too large to enter cells in adequate amounts.

Experiments where human cells were infected with a range of viruses, including influenza and Zika, demonstrated that this mRNA cocktail effectively enhanced viral protection. This could provide the necessary head start in the body.

The team subsequently administered these mRNAs to the lungs of Golden Hamsters. The mRNA combination afforded strong protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19, drastically reducing viral loads in comparison to untreated counterparts. “I thought, ‘This could actually be a universal antiviral,’” Bogunovic says.

Present antiviral medications are typically limited to specific viruses; hence, broad-spectrum treatments are immensely valuable. The breakthrough of antibiotics such as penicillin, which can eliminate a wide array of bacteria, has transformed medical practice.

Moreover, some combinations of proteins activated by interferons may work particularly well against specific viruses, Bogunovic mentions. This same methodology could also help in formulating specialized antiviral agents.

Effectively delivering mRNA to a significant number of vulnerable cells remains crucial. Further advancements are required, as targeting specific cell types with mRNA continues to be challenging.

“This scenario is certainly intriguing and could lead to significant developments, but we are still a distance from implementing practical and adaptable solutions,” states Aris Katzourakis from Oxford University. “This research emphasizes the vast potential of mRNA technology extending beyond vaccines. The current trend of mRNA vaccine funding in the US will likely and regrettably hinder progress in both domains.”

While antibiotic resistance remains a pressing issue, Bogunovic believes it is unlikely that viruses will develop resistance to this type of antiviral approach, given its combination of various interferon-triggered proteins that target multiple phases of the virus’s lifecycle. This combined strategy has already yielded successes in HIV treatments.

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Incredible Workouts to Enhance Your Sleep Quality

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Yoga has emerged as the leading practice for enhancing sleep

ShutterStock/Drazen Zigic

After a poor night’s sleep, the last thing I feel like doing is working out, even though I know it could help me rest better. The idea of intense physical activity when I’m sleep-deprived doesn’t seem appealing. However, I was astonished to discover that pushing yourself at the gym may not be the most effective strategy for improving sleep.

A recent review of 22 studies involving over 1,300 adults suffering from insomnia evaluated how seven exercise-related interventions influenced sleep. It was found that gentler activities like yoga and Tai Chi contribute more positively to sleep quality than intense workouts, such as strength training and aerobic exercises.

Yoga (as shown in the image) has been linked with an increase in total sleep time by nearly 2 hours compared to the control group, surpassing the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy. Traditional insomnia treatments boost sleep by merely about an hour, while Tai Chi results in a 52-minute increase. Instead of helping individuals sleep longer, exercising diminished the frequency of awakenings and shortened the duration it took to fall asleep.

I must admit I found these findings surprising. I had thought one reason exercise helps improve sleep is because it tires you out. However, the results suggest this isn’t the case; intense physical activity had minimal impact on sleep.

Then what about those gentle exercises that are major contributors to better sleep? Their effectiveness may lie in their focus on breath control and bodily awareness. Research indicates that mindfulness practices, along with activities like Yoga and Tai Chi, diminish the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, which manages our fight or flight responses. This leads to reduced blood pressure, heart rate, and levels of the stress hormone cortisol, ultimately alleviating depression and anxiety symptoms that can disrupt sleep.

However, these findings don’t suggest that other types of exercise lack value for those with insomnia. In fact, walking and jogging showed the most significant reductions in insomnia severity index scores, which assess sleep quality alongside its effects on mood, attention, and memory. Although walking and jogging didn’t seem to improve sleep duration, the reduced severity scores might indicate that mild aerobic activities assist in mitigating the daytime impacts of insomnia.

I truly appreciate this kind of research. I believe that exercise encompasses more than just pushing your body to its limits. If I’m not physically drained, I can find myself thinking that my workouts don’t matter, but that’s simply not accurate! Interestingly, reducing the intensity seems to have its unique advantages, including enhanced sleep quality. Plus, unrolling my yoga mat feels more manageable after a night of poor sleep than logging miles on the treadmill.

Grace Wade is a health reporter for New Scientist based in the US

These articles are published weekly at NewsCientist.com/Maker

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Discovered the Largest Black Hole in the Universe to Date

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers have been monitoring the largest black holes observed in space thus far.

Through a combination of two distinct measurement techniques, researchers have recently identified that these colossal black holes possess nearly 10,000 times the mass of the ultra-massive black holes at the center of our galaxy.

This colossal black hole is situated five billion light-years from Earth, at the core of the Cosmic Horseshoe, one of the largest known galaxies. This massive galaxy seems to gather all the galaxies in its vicinity, meaning both it and its black hole have reached their ultimate sizes.

The black hole itself weighs an astonishing 36 billion times the mass of our sun.

The discovery is particularly remarkable given that these black holes are inactive, lacking the typical surrounding luminous dusty disc.

Instead, a recent study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society utilized a combination of two established methods to ascertain the size of this mega black hole.

“The ‘golden’ method generally depends on the kinematics of stars, meaning we measure how the stars move within the galaxy,” noted Carlos Mello in an interview with BBC Science Focus. He is a PhD student at a federal university in Brazil that led the research.

The speed of stars situated at the center of a galaxy correlates closely with the mass of its supermassive black hole. Scientists report that these stars are moving at astonishing velocities, around 400 kilometers (249 miles) per second, indicating an extraordinarily large black hole.

“However, this technique is most efficient for nearby galaxies where telescopes can better resolve the area surrounding the black hole,” Mello explained.

Given that the Cosmic Horseshoe is five billion light-years away, astronomers also employed a second method that utilizes the gravitational lensing effect of galaxies.

The Cosmic Horseshoe is known for the nearly perfect ring of light formed by a gravitational lens that bends light from a background galaxy – Credit: NASA/ESA

Gravitational lenses occur when light from a distant galaxy passes by a massive “lens” object, in this case, the black hole within the Cosmic Horseshoe. The gravity from this “lens” distorts the incoming light much like a magnifying glass, amplifying the light from the background galaxy while altering its appearance.

Astronomers can utilize this distortion to gauge the mass of the lensing object.

“The Cosmic Horseshoe is exceptional because it enables us to leverage both of these powerful methods simultaneously. This gives me greater confidence in the measurements of the black hole and its mass,” Mello remarked.

Both the galaxy and its black hole have achieved immense scales by merging with neighboring galaxies. This is the typical growth process for galaxies over time; ultimately, no surrounding galaxies can merge without reaching significant mass increases.

The Cosmic Horseshoe has reached this advanced stage, existing within a bubble of relatively few bright galaxies nearby.

“This discovery provides a unique insight into the culmination of galaxy and black hole formation,” Mello stated. “By examining this system, we can enhance our understanding of how other galaxies and their ultra-massive black holes evolve over cosmic time.”

About Our Experts

Carlos Mello is a doctoral student at a Federal University in Brazil.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Understanding the Appeal of Cozy Games: Where’s My Majestic Cole Mid-Wife Simulator?

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

I spent 85 hours immersed in Death Stranding 2 before it hit me: what I was experiencing was an apocalyptic nightmare unfolding on an Earth plagued by a Death Monster. Yet, I found myself treating it as a delightful game. For countless hours, I navigated a photorealistic landscape in a pickup truck, delivering packages to remote communities and constructing new roads. My motivation to complete the main storyline was purely to unlock additional map regions, allowing me to connect with new characters and expand my road network. It felt blissful and entertaining.

I’m far from the only one indulging in games like this. The “Cozy Games” niche has flourished into a vibrant cottage industry over the past five years, featuring countless indie titles that captivate a passionate community. Successful crossovers like Minecraft, Stardew Valley, and Untitled Goose Game have set the bar high. This month, Steam offers a variety of charming titles including Cat’s Post Office, delightful food truck management sims, and cozy games centered around quaint bookstores. These games typically share common traits: small, often youthful development teams working remotely, brief gameplay sessions, low-stakes challenges, and stylistic visuals that serve both aesthetic and economic purposes.

Yet, it’s curious that we don’t see more luxurious mainstream, Triple A titles despite a clearly established audience for cozy gaming. Major producers like Ubisoft, EA, and Xbox struggle to innovate, opting instead to churn out the next cookie-cutter live service shooter to compete with Fortnite, often wasting millions in the process. I wonder why no one has attempted a grand open-world adventure geared toward positive interactions and gentle drama. The realms of television, film, and literature are brimming with this type of content. Where’s my video game rendition of *Call the Midwife*? Why can’t I ride a bicycle through a 1950s setting? What would be the gaming equivalent of *Downton Abbey* or *Gilmore Girls*?

A frighteningly captivating… untitled geese game. Photo: House House

I recognize the most apparent reason behind this trend. Like Hollywood, mainstream game development focuses heavily on minimizing risk, leading to an industry saturated with action, violence, and power fantasy. However, cultural discussions reveal that cozy gamers appreciate narrative and mechanics over visual fidelity. Moo Yu, Creative Director at Small Studio, mentions, “I think a cozy game of higher budget will certainly be developed. This audience values a broader spectrum of experiences across various price ranges.”

And this is a key point. High-end graphics and expansive worlds aren’t the only worthwhile goals; they represent but one form of immersive experience. Untitled Goose Game wouldn’t hold the same charm if it featured a hyper-realistic environment with a goose rendered in 100,000 texture-mapped polygons. The beauty of *Stardew Valley* lies in its vibrant retro aesthetic. The art’s appeal is not merely in high production value; it’s also about the comfort derived from limitation in both choice and outcomes. The game gently guides you, saying, “Everything will be alright.”

Beyond community authority… Mythmatch. Photo: Team Artichoke

My friend John Cartwright, an experienced game developer who mentors small studios in Australia and New Zealand, shared his thoughts when I reached out. “The cozy game’s market is limited in size, a domain often dominated by small indie teams with constrained budgets. All cozy games share a safe environment with low-stakes gameplay, which has largely remained underdeveloped, especially during the stress of Covid. The simplistic visuals were an added source of comfort and attraction.”

Creating charm is no simple feat. It can’t be manufactured with a new, expensive graphics engine or by having 500 employees working overtime. Just like you can’t establish a high-tech charm center in a desert. In larger productions, charm emerges organically, akin to monumental TV dramas, yet it’s finite and precarious. The entire notion of a cozy game as a defined genre or intentional gameplay element is still relatively nascent. Historically, games have been focused on winning, while elements emphasizing kindness and empathy have yet to be officially recognized. There’s a clever saying that contrasts games and movies: explosions are cheap, yet capturing human emotion through close-ups is a costly endeavor. Given the interactive medium’s historically limited visual naturalism, portraying drama through a date invitation can be more challenging than simply depicting conflict. But we have a century’s worth of animation to showcase how charm, comfort, and emotional closeness can be represented through the most iconic and stylized palettes.

Moo Yu remains optimistic that a cozy, epic, mainstream title will make its way into gaming’s future. He cites the fashion-centric role-playing game Infinity Nikki as an example. Until that time, I’ll continue to feign interest in the issues surrounding chiral contamination and extinction, all for the chance to save the kangaroos, meet the inventors, and traverse the stunning yet irradiated landscapes in my trusty truck. Sometimes you have to play their game to win for yourself.

What to Play

Retro Shooter…Operation Night Striker. Photo: Taito/M2

August has proven to be a fantastic month for retro arcade collections, and we can’t resist recommending one more before we venture back to contemporary titles. Operation Night Striker is a collection of four iconic Taito shooters, effectively blending action film tropes with gaming elements, including the innovative light gun classic, Operation Wolf. It also features its sequel, Thunderbolt operations, as well as two lesser-known gems: the Cyberpunk Flying Car shooter Night Striker and Space Gun, which takes a whimsical approach with its face-hugger and flamethrower. As is usually the case with these collections, new features have been integrated, and gamers playing the Switch version can utilize Joycon as a makeshift light gun. While it may not be highly accurate, it recalls the nostalgia of using the original maggot gun controller from Operation.

These vibrant, fast-paced, and delightfully absurd popcorn games perfectly capture the essence of their era, complete with smooth-scrolling 2D backgrounds, electrifying soundtracks, engaging gameplay loops, and brawny heroes. You’ll be hooked!

Available on: PC, Switch
Estimated playtime: Over 10 hours

What to Read

You have to catch everything… Pikachu. Photo: Pokémon Company

In a tale that echoes the antics of Verca Salt, McDonald’s Japan had to cancel a Pokémon promotion due to massive food waste and rampant scalping. According to Eurogamer, an exclusive Pikachu card was offered as part of a limited edition Happy Meal deal, leading fans to queue for hours, resulting in fights and food waste in the streets as scalpers took advantage, listing the cards at inflated prices on auction sites.
It’s always enlightening to read Rob Fahey’s Industry Analysis on GamesIndustry.biz. This week, he discusses the fate of PlayStation, scrutinizing how consoles remain profitable despite pitfalls, including the seemingly obligatory shift to live services that have failed to yield meaningful returns.
Looking into the future, Xbox has changed the game design landscape over the last 20 years. In an interesting analysis at AV Club, they explore how gamers have responded to the commercialization of gaming and its impact on design.

What to Click

Question Block

Juggernaut on the Horizon…GTA VI. Photo: Rockstar Games

Rich John from Bluesky raised an interesting point:

“Is it beneficial for the industry that a behemoth like GTA VI garners so much media attention and expected revenue? How will this impact other publishers?”

To put it simply, there’s no major gaming company with high hopes for 2026, which will coincide with Rockstar’s highly anticipated release window. As illustrated in a recent industry newsletter, three major Triple A developers have adjusted their timelines, giving it a wide berth, significantly impacting development teams who might have invested years planning for that release slot. This situation can create media and marketing black holes.

However, this isn’t all negative. When GTA V debuted in 2013, it didn’t obliterate every game in its path, as seen with casual mobile games like Puzzle & Dragon and Candy Crush, both of which thrived alongside titles that garnered dedicated fanbases like World of Warcraft and Call of Duty. Furthermore, monumental successes like GTA V often spark widespread attention, interest, and potential investments across the entire industry, leading to follow-up titles. Moreover, these giants often introduce innovative design elements to the market, as GTA Online was the pioneering live service experiment.

In essence, it’s beneficial; ripe with potential. While the immediate fallout could be challenging for other studios, as evidenced by GTA V, casual gamers and ardent followers of other franchises are unlikely to abandon their favorites for the latest Rockstar title. Additionally, the ripple effect of a blockbuster’s success opens avenues for future projects. Much like Hollywood post-*Star Wars*, where studios dared to venture into big-budget sci-fi genres, we could see more opportunities presented in the aftermath of such monumental success, even if it’s achieved by competitors.

If you have any burning questions or comments about the newsletter, feel free to reach out at pushbuttons@theguardian.com.

Online Couples May Experience Lower Relationship Satisfaction

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The way couples first connect can influence their relationship quality

Good face/interpretation

A global study involving 50 countries reveals that individuals who meet their partners online report lower relationship satisfaction and less emotional connection compared to those who meet in person initially.

The rise of the internet has transformed relationship dynamics. For instance, while in the mid-20th century, heterosexual couples typically met through mutual friends, by the early 21st century, this trend shifted to online interactions as primary.

To explore how these changes impact relationship quality, Malta Kowal from the University of Wroclaw, Poland, and her team studied 6,646 individuals in heterosexual relationships across all continents except Antarctica.

Participants were asked whether they started their relationship online and to rate their satisfaction levels. Additionally, they were assessed on emotional intimacy (how well they feel understood by their partner), passion, and commitment (including whether they view their relationship as long-term).

Those who met their partners online scored an average of 4.20 out of 5 on the relationship satisfaction scale, whereas those who met offline scored 4.28—indicating a small but statistically significant difference. Online couples reported lower scores in intimacy, passion, and commitment.

According to Kowal, several factors might contribute to this disparity. Research suggests that partners who meet online often have less in common in terms of educational background and ethnicity compared to those who meet in person. Kowal and her collaborators propose that this might lead to differences in their everyday lives and shared values.

Kowal also points out the issue of “Choice Overload.” With dating platforms presenting numerous options, individuals may second-guess their choices, which can ultimately diminish satisfaction.

Moreover, she notes that some people tend to misrepresent themselves in online dating profiles. “You might see someone and think, ‘No way is he two meters tall; he’s more like 170 centimeters,'” Kowal explains. This kind of disparity can negatively impact relationship satisfaction.

Luke Brunning from the University of Leeds in the UK finds this research “fascinating” and “valuable” for future studies, particularly in considering how online dating may redefine relationship approaches or if shifting attitudes toward commitment drive these changes.

He further suggests that the overall difference between couples who meet online and offline is “relatively small.”

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Naturally, Mark Zuckerberg is still performing well—he’s just redefined what ‘good’ means

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

It’s a narrative straight out of a novel—this heavy-handed tech satire highlights the hypocrisy beneath it all. Yet here we are, digesting The New York Times report that reveals Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, running private schools from their compounds in Palo Alto, California, in breach of urban zoning laws. The school, serving just 14 children—including two of the couple’s three daughters—is located less than a mile from a school they founded in 2016 for low-income families.

Mention “zoning violation” to certain Americans, and it triggers reactions akin to using “cue jumpers” among the British. The real issue here, however, transcends mere permissions. (A spokesperson for Zuckerberg and Chan informed the newspaper that families were unaware of the zoning law and that private schools, or “homeschooner pods,” are relocating elsewhere.) The crux lies in Zuckerberg’s apparent withdrawal from progressive social initiatives, opting instead to realign with the Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), which has slashed funding for diversity programs across numerous charities that support affordable housing and homeless services in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Officially, these adjustments come after CZI spent a decade mastering effective philanthropy, concluding that funding would be better directed towards scientific and medical initiatives. Unofficially, this shift appears to align with a local transformation in Zuckerberg’s worldview—from promoting human potential and equality to the establishment of a “science-first charity.” In essence, it mirrors Metahead’s political maneuverings, echoing feminist t-shirt slogans during the Biden administration while embodying a more “masculine energy” during the Trump era. Trump’s Allies now lurk in the metaverse.

Zuckerberg’s political adaptability mirrors that of other tech leaders, but there may be deeper dynamics at play. Unlike scientific research, philanthropy’s social experiments often reveal uncomfortable truths. Back in 2010, when Zuckerberg donated $100 million to revitalize the Newark Public School System, some educators criticized him for imposing startup ideologies and quick fixes—like charter schools and “parent choices”—on the complex and interconnected issues of the U.S. public school system. Imagining the reactions at headquarters: “We’re trying to help—why the backlash? Why don’t these nobodies behave like billionaires at a dictator’s inauguration?”

Another interesting aspect about billionaires is their rapid loss of interest. Allegedly, one reason Zuckerberg and Chan opted to close charity schools in East Palo Alto is that Chan was reportedly frustrated with the slow progress. Given the intellects involved, that’s not entirely surprising. However, these children seem determined to evade the Ivy League while remaining impoverished. The assumption of limitless adaptability of skills among certain tech leaders is hard to retire. Consider the Bezos Day 1 Academy Fund, where the world’s third-richest man promises to oversee “Montessori-style kindergartens” with zero tuition—a significant portion of taxes directed toward national education funds.

Meanwhile, back in Zuckerberg’s Crescent Park enclave, tensions are palpable. In an area favored by Stanford professors, Zuckerberg acquired 11 properties, transforming them into compounds, complete with pickleball courts and basement excavations, reminiscent of low-rent oligarchs in London’s West End. Following years of noise, construction, and traffic disruptions due to the school, a neighbor was ready to respond when a New York Times reporter called: “I don’t want my neighborhood to be overrun.” He stated that his house is surrounded on three sides by Zuckerberg’s property. “But that’s exactly what they’ve done: they’ve taken over our neighborhood.” Replacing “world” with “neighborhood” succinctly encapsulated the situation.

The Limited Advantages of GPT-5 Indicate a Slowdown in AI Advancement

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

GPT-5 is the latest version of OpenAI’s flagship language model

Cheng Xin/Getty Images

OpenAI has recently unveiled GPT-5, their latest AI model, marking another step in AI evolution rather than a dramatic breakthrough. Following the successful rollout of GPT-4, which significantly advanced ChatGPT’s capabilities and influence, the improvements found in GPT-5 seem marginal, indicating that innovative strategies may be needed to achieve further advancements in artificial intelligence.

OpenAI has described GPT-5 as a notable advancement over its predecessor, boasting enhancements in areas such as programming, mathematics, writing, healthcare, and visual comprehension. The company claims a reduction in the incidence of “hallucinations,” instances where AI generates incorrect information as factual. According to their internal metrics, GPT-5 claims to excel in complex and economically significant tasks across various professions, asserting it matches or exceeds expert-level performance.

Notably, however, GPT-5’s results on public benchmarks are less competitive when compared with leading models from other companies, such as Anthropic’s Claude and Google’s Gemini. Although it has improved from GPT-4, the enhancements are subtler than the leap observed between GPT-3 and GPT-4. Numerous users have expressed dissatisfaction with GPT-5’s performance, citing instances where it struggled with straightforward queries, leading to a chorus of disappointment on social media.

“Many were expecting a major breakthrough, but it seems more like an upgrade,” remarked Mirela Rapata from the University of Edinburgh. “There’s a sense of incremental progress.”

OpenAI has disclosed limited details regarding the internal benchmarks for GPT-5’s performance, making it challenging to assess them scientifically, according to Anna Rogers from the University of Copenhagen.

In a pre-release press briefing, Altman emphasized, “It feels like engaging with an expert on any topic, comparable to a PhD-level specialist.” Yet, Rogers pointed out that benchmarks do not substantiate such claims, and the correlation between advanced degrees and intelligence is questionable. “Highly intelligent individuals do not always hold PhDs, nor does a PhD guarantee superior intelligence,” she noted.

The modest advancements in GPT-5 may reflect broader challenges within the AI development community. Once believed to be an inexorable progression, the capabilities of large-scale language models (LLMs) seem to be plateauing, as recent results have not supported the prior assumptions that increased training data and computational power would lead to significant enhancements. As Lapata noted, “Now that everyone has adopted similar approaches, it’s evident that we’re following a predictable recipe, utilizing vast amounts of pre-training data and refining it during the post-training phase.”

However, whether LLMs are nearing a plateau remains uncertain, as technical design specifics about models like GPT-5 are not widely known, according to Nicos Aretra from the University of Sheffield. “It’s premature to claim that large-scale language models have reached their limits without concrete technical insights.”

OpenAI is also exploring alternative methods to enhance their offerings, such as the new routing system in GPT-5. Unlike previous versions where users could select from various models, GPT-5 intelligently assesses requests and directs them to the appropriate model based on the required computational power.

This strategy could potentially be more widely adopted, as Lapata mentions, “The reasoning model demands significant computation, which is both time-consuming and costly.” Yet, this shift has frustrated some ChatGPT users, prompting Altman to indicate that efforts are underway to enhance the routing process.

Another OpenAI model has recently achieved remarkable scores in elite mathematics and coding contests, hinting at a promising future for AI. This accomplishment was beyond the capabilities of leading AI models just a year ago. Although details on its functioning remain scarce, OpenAI staff have stated that this success implies the model possesses improved general reasoning skills.

These competitions allow us to evaluate models on data not encountered during training, according to Aletras, but they still represent a narrow aspect of intelligence. Enhanced performance in one domain may detrimentally affect results in others, warns Lapata.

GPT-5 has notably improved in pricing, as it is now significantly cheaper compared to other models—e.g., Claude models are approximately ten times more expensive when processing an equal volume of requests. However, this could lead to financial issues for OpenAI if revenue is insufficient to sustain the high costs of developing and operating new data centers. “Pricing is extraordinary. It’s so inexpensive; I’m uncertain how they can sustain it,” remarked Lapata.

Competition among leading AI models is intense. The first company to launch a superior model could secure a substantial market share. “All major companies are vying for dominance, which is a challenging endeavor,” noted Rapata. “You’ve only held the crown for three months.”

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Elon Musk Takes Legal Action Against Apple Over Open Ally, Sparking Feud with Sam Altman

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Elon Musk has threatened to take legal action against Apple on behalf of the AI startup Xai, alleging that the iPhone manufacturer is favoring OpenAI and breaching antitrust laws regarding App Store rankings. This statement drew a sharp response from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and ignited a feud between the two former business associates at X.

“Apple is operating in a manner that prevents non-OpenAI AI companies from achieving the top position on the App Store. This clearly violates antitrust regulations. Xai is prepared to take swift legal measures,” Musk declared in a post on X.

In another post that day, he stated:

Currently, OpenAI’s ChatGPT occupies the top spot in the “Top Free Apps” category of the US App Store, while Xai’s Grok sits in fifth place. Apple has partnered with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Neither Apple nor Xai provided any comments.

Altman replied to Musk on X, saying, “This is an unexpected claim considering we’ve heard Elon is attempting to manipulate X for his own benefit and to undermine his competitors, including those he dislikes.” Reports indicate that Musk has tweaked X’s algorithm to favor his own posts.

Altman and Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015, but Musk departed the startup in 2018 and withdrew his funding after proposing they take control. Musk has since filed two times for a planned shift to commercial entities, alleging “Shakespeare’s proportional deception ceit.” Altman has characterized Musk as a bitter and envious ex-partner, resentful of the company’s achievements post-departure.

Musk responded to Altman’s tweet, stating, “You got 3 million views for dishonest posts. You’re a liar; despite having 50 times your followers, my engagement has far exceeded yours!”

Altman retorted to Musk several times, initially calling the lack of views a “skill issue” or “bot-related” before posing legal questions.

Users on X highlighted through the Community Notes feature that several apps, aside from OpenAI, have claimed top positions on the App Store this year.

For instance, the Chinese AI app Deepseek reached the No. 1 position in January, while Perplexity ranked first in the App Store in India in July.

One user inquired about Grok, X’s native AI. The chatbot replied: “Based on confirmed evidence, Sam Altman is correct.”

Musk’s remarks come as regulators and competitors heighten their scrutiny of Apple’s App Store dominance.

Earlier this year, an EU antitrust regulator ordered Apple to pay a fine of 500 million euros ($581.15 million).

In early 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, accusing the iPhone manufacturer of establishing and maintaining “broad, persistent, and illegal” monopolies in the smartphone market.

A Steam-Activated Mouthpiece Can Harbor Fungi That Threaten Airway Health

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Vaping offers a healthier alternative to smoking, yet it is not without risks.

Matthew Horwood/Getty Images

Fungal sequences linked to lung issues have been identified from e-cigarette mouthpieces.

While vaping is often recommended as a means to avoid smoking, the long-term health impacts remain largely unclear.

Devices designed for vaping utilize battery-powered coils to heat liquids that typically contain nicotine, generating vapors for inhalation by the user. The primary health concerns center around the toxicity of the liquid’s chemical components; however, the presence of microorganisms transferred from the device to the user’s airways has not been thoroughly investigated.

For further insights, refer to Borna Mehrad and his team at the University of Florida, who studied 25 daily users of disposable vapes. Researchers isolated microorganisms from the mouthpiece of the devices and compared them with samples taken from the participants’ mouths.

Although the sample size was limited, researchers noted that more than half exhibited a “rich colonization” of fungal species distinct from those found in the participants’ mouths, with 80% of these species linked to potential illnesses in humans.

The predominant species identified was Cystobasidium minutum, which is associated with blood infections in immunocompromised individuals. To evaluate its impact on lung health, the research team exposed mice to C. minutum, mimicking the inhalation process associated with vaping.

“Our findings showed that the fungus most frequently found in vape samples induced characteristics of chronic bronchitis in mice,” explains Mehrad. This condition is characterized by airway inflammation and can result in flu-like symptoms.

Regarding the source of these fungi, some may be present in the environment or on our hands. However, Jason Smith indicated that while this has not been tested, it is possible that some microorganisms were already within the vaping liquid when purchased. “Residual material in the vape device can create a nutrient base for mold proliferation,” he adds.

Ian Musgrave from the University of Adelaide in Australia has noted that these fungi have also been detected in shisha (commonly referred to as hookah or waterpipe), which is known to contribute to lung diseases induced by microbes. “Notably, the microbiota documented in this study were predominantly composed of potentially pathogenic fungi that are uncommon in the oral microbiota,” he remarks.

Team member Katy Deitz expressed that the results were not surprising, considering that around one-third of participants who reported respiratory complaints, such as coughing, did not properly clean their vapes.

Musgrave advocates for regular cleaning of vaping devices but stresses that current evidence does not definitively indicate that these fungal species exist in sufficient quantities on vape mouthpieces to pose a health threat.

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Crypto Mogul Do Kwon Admits Guilt in Fraud Linked to $400 Billion Market Collapse

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Do Kwon, the South Korean entrepreneur behind two cryptocurrencies that were responsible for an estimated $400 billion loss in 2022 and caused significant market turbulence, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and wire fraud in a US court on Tuesday.

At 33 years old, Kwon co-founded Terraform Labs in Singapore and was the creator of the Terrausd and Luna currencies. He appeared in a federal court hearing in New York, having initially pleaded not guilty in January to nine charges, which include securities fraud, wire fraud, merchandise fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Kwon was accused of deceiving investors about Terrausd in 2021—a Stablecoin intended to maintain a value equivalent to one US dollar—leading him to plead guilty to two counts under a plea agreement with Manhattan prosecutors.

He could face a maximum of 25 years in prison when Judge Engelmeyer sentences him on December 11. However, prosecutor Kimberly Ravener noted that Kwon has agreed to a prison term of no more than 12 years if he takes responsibility for his actions. He has been in custody since his extradition from Montenegro late last year.

Kwon is among several cryptocurrency executives facing federal charges after the 2022 downturn in digital token prices led to the collapse of numerous businesses. Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX—the largest crypto exchange in the US—was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2024.

Prosecutors allege that when Terrausd dipped below $1 in May 2021, Kwon misled investors, claiming that the “Terra Protocol,” a computer algorithm, had restored the coin’s value. Instead, he allegedly arranged for the covert purchase of millions of dollars in tokens to artificially inflate the price through high-frequency trading companies.

These false representations reportedly misled retail and institutional investors, enticing them to invest in Terraform products and escalate the value of Luna.

During the court proceedings, Kwon expressed remorse for his actions.

“I made misleading statements about why it regained its value without disclosing the involvement of the trading company in restoring that PEG,” Kwon stated. “What I did was wrong.”

Kwon has also agreed to pay $80 million in civil penalties in 2024 and is prohibited from engaging in crypto trading as part of a $4.555 billion settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Additionally, he faces charges in South Korea. As part of his plea agreement, prosecutors indicated they would not oppose his potential transfer to serve his sentence overseas after completing his time in the US, Ravener stated.

The Turning Point: My Decision to Reduce Screen Time – A Regretful Choice

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

I
unlocked my iPhone just as my weekly screen time notifications popped up—an accidental dismissal before I could take a screenshot—and a wave of frustration washed over me. After dedicating an exhausting week to minimizing my phone usage, aiming to reduce my daily screen time from over four hours to under one, I hoped to enhance my mental wellbeing (and maybe even launch a career as an inspirational speaker). Yet, my efforts felt futile as I couldn’t post any proof online showcasing my offline status. I even contemplated using Photoshop to fabricate a screen time report and scoured Google for a way to retrieve notifications (to no avail).

Over the last decade or so, I’ve tried various self-improvement approaches. I’ve read 105 books in a year, unintentionally eliminated sugar (even from fruit) for a spell, and dabbled in shamanism, including interpretive dance. While I might suggest mastering cooking, driving, and typing with all fingers, I can’t seem to reach myself since I’ve stopped staring at my phone.

Exchange one obsession for another… Joe Stone of Tenerife.
Photo: Courtesy of Joe Stone

“Project Screen Time” was born after I listened to a podcast where comedians recommended avoiding social media for two hours after waking. Absorbing this advice—albeit from an amateur who couldn’t quite trace its origin—I decided to avoid checking Instagram first thing in the morning… and it worked. Surprisingly, steering clear of a barrage of other people’s abs before I’d fully woken up actually lifted my spirits. Even more impressively, I found I could usually hold off until after lunch if I didn’t see anything I felt compelled to react to. This brief moment of clarity quickly morphed into a whirlwind, typical of my approach to new challenges.

I swapped one fixation (constantly checking my phone) for another (intentionally not doing so). In the second week, my screen time plummeted to two hours a day. By the third week, it was down to one-and-a-half hours, and I decided to aim for under 60 minutes. A part of me was impressed that this newfound ability was working well and I appeared to be normal. However, I couldn’t keep this “gift” to myself, gradually boring my friends, acquaintances, and even service workers with tales of my newfound discipline.

Eventually, my quest took on new disruptions. I resented having to pull up maps on my phone, and while cycling, I often found myself lost. Want to show someone a photo or meme? Sorry, you’ll have to Google it on their device instead. I even hesitated to order an Uber after a night out, enduring the agony of watching the app slowly crawl toward my location while my screen time ticked away.

My frustration amplified when my screen time statistics didn’t reflect my efforts. I barely glanced at my phone by 2 PM, yet the data indicated I had used it for 36 minutes. Conspiratorial thoughts began to surface. My screen time report was divided into blue (social), turquoise (entertainment), and orange (productivity and finance). Yet, the majority of my time appeared as a prominent gray. What on earth could that gray signify?!

Eventually, “screen time” was added to my list of taboo topics (along with Taylor Swift’s music and lore, and my interest in Ron DeSantis) that were off-limits at home. My lowest moment occurred while sharing my weekly statistics with a friend. He inquired why “Settings” was my third most-used app. That was simply where I went to check my screen time.

My meltdown over not being able to celebrate my record low screen time (51 minutes a day!) served as a wake-up call. What started as a quest to reduce screen time morphed into a new phone addiction. Instead of escaping the urge to seek validation online, I found an alternate way to gain approval. Nevertheless, all was not lost. This realization nudged me toward the acceptance that I would likely never be a moderate person. I can’t rely on self-regulation (my latest regime—skin care—involves LED masks that automatically shut off after 10 minutes; I fear wearing them in the office could evoke comparisons to a vibrant Hannibal Lecter).

Ultimately, I gave up trying to recapture the elusive Screen Time Report. Instead, I resolved to share fewer aesthetic charts from settings that I could post online. Almost instantly, my DMs exploded with queries about how I managed to refrain from scrolling. I responded to every single one, and a rush of dopamine flooded my reward centers. That day, my screen time was recorded at 3 hours and 36 minutes.

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Silent Hill F: The Return of a Horror Classic Set in a Foggy 1960s Town

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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The humidity in Tokyo has reached 35 degrees, and, unfortunately, so have the death tolls. Since the Edo period, summer in Japan has been tied to the emergence of supernatural entities. This season is notorious for a malevolent spirit’s presence. As temperatures rise, the boundaries between the living and the deceased start to dissolve, allowing trapped ghosts to potentially cross into our world.

Amidst this stifling atmosphere, I found myself exploring the mist-wrapped landscape of Japan in Silent Hill F. Set in the fictional town of Holy Island during the 1960s, players step into the dusty shoes of Hinako, a misunderstood teenage girl. Regardless of the summer season, Hinako’s journey begins in a dark setting as she escapes from her abusive, alcoholic father, wandering the intricately crafted streets of her homeland. Unable to live up to the beauty of her older sister, she faces ridicule from her peers.

“Gender is a central theme in the story,” hints series producer Motoi Okamoto. “We can’t delve into too much detail, but the 1960s marked the beginning of the women’s rights movement in Japan, which significantly influenced our choice of setting.”

Silent Hill F. Photo: Konami

Despite the town’s eerie ambiance, Evisugaoka presents a beautifully luxurious virtual environment. As we explore the streets, we’re compelled to inspect every cobblestone nook, slide open translucent bamboo doors, and admire the exquisite details of each Inazumi Shrine. This is a refreshing departure from the typical depictions of Japan in games, often portraying neon-lit Tokyo or the epic tale of an ancient samurai.

“Japanese horror games set in Japan haven’t seen any significant releases in the last decade,” claims Okamoto. “While Silent Hill has traditionally blended Western and Japanese horror, I’ve noticed Japan’s essence slowly diminishing. This is why Silent Hill F aims to enhance the Japanese theme more robustly.”

It doesn’t take long for the town’s unsettling charm to devolve into pure terror. As fog envelops Evisugaoka, Hinako is pursued by a puppet show, chasing the strikingly beautiful red tendrils sprouting from the ground. These crimson flowers can ensnare your feet during battles, leaving you helpless as a mannequin-like monster gazes upon you with judgment.

Dust coating…Silent Hill F. Photo: Konami

Notably, Silent Hill F does not feature firearms; instead, Hinako wields various makeshift weapons: daggers, baseball bats, and even magic. The gameplay consists of intense melee combat, with perfectly-timed dodges and counters replenishing Hinako’s stamina for follow-up attacks, evoking a dark, Souls-like survival horror atmosphere.

“One of my early goals for this game was to incorporate more action,” explains Okamoto. “However, being a horror game, we can’t fully commit to action without balancing it with tense moments. I believe we’ve achieved a delicate equilibrium.”

At first, I was doubtful. The initial hour of Silent Hill F felt cumbersome and repetitive, with attacks and dodges that lacked precision, resulting in disorienting early deaths. But as I persevered through the frustrations, I eventually found myself more engaged during a heightened battle—a sign that the combat rhythm is there. While the uneven difficulty in this preview build may need adjustments before release, I’ve experienced a late demo boss that killed me over 30 times, yet the brutal battles meld seamlessly with survival horrors.

Stress built into the system…Silent Hill F. Photo: Konami

“Many people say they enjoy the thrill of horror games, but I believe what they truly appreciate is the tension,” remarks Al Yang, the game director from Neobaldo’s Konami. “The fear of the unknown is one aspect, but constant jump scares quickly become tiresome.”

Instead, Silent Hill F embeds stress into every system. Drawing from Lovecraftian elements, players must monitor a sanity meter and make offerings at shrines to stabilize Hinako’s mental state. “You need to keep track of how close your candle is really,” Yang emphasizes. That creates tension.”

As I navigated through the compact alleys, the tightly arranged streets transitioned into misty rice fields and eerie abandoned farms. Yet, despite the horrors lurking in Evisugaoka, every monster carries a relatable human thread in Silent Hill F. As the town descends into chaos and Hinako searches for her friends, flashbacks and poignant dialogues keep players invested in her journey across time. Like previous installments, each encounter possesses a dream-like quality, further grounded by the meticulously crafted 60s setting.

“When navigating historical periods, if you delve too deeply, it can become disconnected from our familiar reality and veer into fantasy,” states Ryukishi07, the screenwriter for Silent Hill F, regarding the 60s setting. “While rooted in reality now, there’s little space for interpretation. I’ve always appreciated the possibilities that arise from the interplay between past and present—that’s right where fantasy and reality converge.”

It feels fitting to revisit Silent Hill during Japan’s equivalent of Halloween. This franchise, once thought to be lifeless and buried, now rises again, much like the spirit of Japan.

“When I became involved with Silent Hill, my vision was to deliver more than just a remake,” Okamoto shares. “We could have merely appeased old fans with nostalgia, but I was hopeful for progression. I believe fans can place more faith in Silent Hill’s revival…and that this journey will continue.”

Silent Hill F is set to release on PC, PS5, and Xbox on September 25th.

AI Could Intensify Racism and Sexism in Australia, Warns Human Rights Commissioner

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Concerns have been raised that AI could exacerbate racism and sexism in Australia, as human rights commissioners expressed during internal discussions within the Labor party regarding new technologies.

Lorraine Finlay cautioned that while seeking productivity gains from AI is important, it should not come at the cost of discrimination if the technology remains unregulated.

Finlay’s remarks came after worker Sen. Michel Ananda Raja advocated for the “liberation” of Australian data to tech companies, noting that AI often reflects and perpetuates biases from abroad while shaping local culture.

Ananda Raja opposes a dedicated AI law but emphasizes that content creators ought to be compensated for their contributions.

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Discussions about enhancing productivity through AI are scheduled for the upcoming federal economic summit, as unions and industry groups voice concerns over copyright and privacy issues.

Media and Arts organizations have raised alarms about the “ramping theft” of intellectual property if large tech corporations gain access to content for training AI systems.

Finlay noted the challenges of identifying embedded biases due to a lack of clarity regarding the datasets used by AI tools.

“Algorithmic bias means that discrimination and inequality are inherent in the tools we utilize, leading to outcomes that reflect these biases,” she stated.

Lorraine Finlay, Human Rights Commissioner. Photo: Mick Tsikas/AAP

“The combination of algorithmic and automation biases leads individuals to rely more on machine decisions and potentially disregard their own judgment,” Finlay remarked.

The Human Rights Commission has consistently supported an AI Act that would enhance existing legislation, including privacy laws, and ensure comprehensive testing for bias in AI tools. Finlay urged the government to quickly establish new regulations.

“Bias tests and audits, along with careful human oversight, are essential,” she added.

Evidence of bias in AI technologies is increasingly reported in fields like healthcare and workforce recruitment in Australia and worldwide.

A recent survey in Australia revealed that job applicants interviewed by AI recruiters faced potential discrimination if they had accents or disabilities.

Ananda Raja, a vocal proponent for AI development, noted the risks of training AI systems using exclusively Australian data, as well as the concerns of amplifying foreign biases.

While the government prioritizes intellectual property protection, she cautioned against limiting domestic data access, warning that Australia would be reliant on overseas AI models without adequate oversight.

“AI requires a vast array of data from diverse populations to avoid reinforcing biases and harming those it aims to assist,” Ananda Raja emphasized.

“We must liberate our data to better train our models, ensuring they authentically represent us.”

“I am eager to support content creators while freeing up data, aiming for an alternative to foreign exploitation of resources,” Ananda Raja stated.

She cited AI screening tools for skin cancer as examples where algorithmic bias has been documented. To combat bias and discrimination affecting specific patients, it is essential to train these models on diverse datasets to protect sensitive information.

Finlay emphasized that any release of Australian data needs to be handled fairly, but she feels the emphasis should be on establishing appropriate regulations.

“It’s certainly beneficial to have diverse and representative data… but that is merely part of the solution,” she clarified.

“We must ensure that this technology is equitable and is implemented in a manner that recognizes and values human contributions.”

Judith Bishop, an AI expert at La Trobe University and former data researcher at an AI firm, asserted that increasing the availability of local data will enhance the effectiveness of AI tools.

“It is crucial to recognize that systems developed in different contexts can be relevant, as the [Australian] population should not exclusively depend on US data models,” Bishop stated.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has also voiced concerns regarding the lack of transparency related to the data applied by AI technologies.

In her statement, she urged tech companies to be transparent about their training datasets, develop robust reporting mechanisms, and utilize diverse, accurate, and representative data for their products.

“The opacity surrounding generative AI’s development and deployment poses significant issues,” Inman Grant remarked. “This raises critical concerns about the potential for large language models (LLMs) to amplify harmful biases, including restrictive or detrimental gender norms and racial prejudices.”

“Given that a handful of companies dominate the development of these systems, there is a significant risk that certain perspectives, voices, and evidence could become suppressed or overlooked in the generated outputs.”

No Reviews Yet: Headphones 1 | Thoughtful Designs for Your Comfort

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

lThe latest headphones from London-based Nothing feature an eye-catching design that breaks away from the typical aesthetics of noise-canceling models, offering a striking appearance reminiscent of both the Walkman and the Doctor Who Cybermen of the ’80s.

The large, translucent design certainly makes a statement, marked by intricate details, dot matrix printing, and physical buttons. However, it lacks any flashy LED elements that could be found on the company phone.

Priced at £299, these unconventional headphones enter a competitive market, challenging top names like Bose, Sony, and Sennheiser.

The visible components through the clear plastic exterior are purely decorative. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Striking, translucent ear cups extend from a sleek aluminum body, attached via adjustable black steel arms to ensure a perfect fit.

Weighing in at 329g, they are reasonably heavy but offer effective clamping that holds them securely without excessive pressure. The ear cushions are slim yet exceptionally comfortable, ideal for warm days, though the headband padding is somewhat lacking, potentially leading to discomfort after prolonged listening.

The right ear cup features five buttons and two ports: a power switch, USB-C port, and headphone jack at the base, along with a concealed Bluetooth pairing button on the inner edge. A rolling button controls volume and pauses playback, also toggling the noise-canceling feature.

The buttons and control levers are beautiful and tactile, providing a clear sense of touch. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Below the roller, there’s a paddle that moves from side to side. The last button outside the ear cup activates your smartphone’s voice assistant, but it can be adjusted for other functions like noise cancellation. Having multiple tactile buttons is a refreshing change from the touch or single-button setups common in many headphones.

Battery life offers 30-35 hours with noise cancellation on, or up to 80 hours without, which aligns with competitors and is sufficient for a week of commuting or travel. A full charge takes just 2 hours.

These headphones support Bluetooth 5.3 and can connect to two devices simultaneously. Additionally, they feature a standard 3.5mm headphone jack for audio playback via USB-C.

Specifications

Weight: 329g
Dimensions: 189.3 x 173.9 x 78mm
Driver: 40mm
Connectivity: Multipoint, 3.5mm, Bluetooth 5.3 with USB-C charging and audio
Bluetooth Codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC
Rated battery life: 35 hours ANC

Sound by KEF, Noise Cancellation by Nothing

Thin yet comfortable memory foam ear cushions provide a sound-friendly seal. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Partnering with KEF, a renowned British speaker manufacturer, has resulted in well-tuned audio for the Headphone 1 model. The sound profile is fairly balanced, delivering a punchy low-end while maintaining clarity in the mids. The sound stage is relatively wide, showcasing decent detail and great separation.

These headphones perform best with noise cancellation off; enabling it can narrow the sound stage and obscure more complex tracks. While they may not compete with the top-tier models for fine nuances, they offer a pleasant listening experience across various genres.

The noise cancellation is reasonably effective but lags behind the best in the industry. It handles lower frequencies well but struggles with higher pitches, particularly voices, even at maximum noise cancellation settings, lacking an option for focusing on a specific environment.

The transparency mode sounds natural but can be overly intrusive, amplifying ambient noise too much, which, while good for awareness, detracts from the music. Call quality is satisfactory, providing clarity even in noisy environments.

The Nothing x App, available on Android and iPhone, allows users to adjust settings, complete updates, and access comprehensive equalizers. Users can enable spatial audio for a more immersive movie-watching experience.

Sustainability

The physical power switch is well-positioned next to the USB-C and 3.5mm audio ports. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

These headphones are repairable, with replacement ear cushions available through customer service, but they are not constructed from recycled materials.

Price

The Nothing Headphone 1 retails for £299 (or equivalent in Euros/US Dollars at $299/$549) and is available in both white and black options.

In comparison, the Sony WH-1000XM6 is priced at £399, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra is available for £350, Sonos Ace for £399, Beats Studio Pro costs £350, Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless retails for £199, and Fairbuds XL is priced at £219.

Verdict

The Nothing Headphone 1 distinguishes itself in a sea of similarly styled noise-canceling headphones. However, its bold design, particularly in white, tends to attract more attention than some may prefer.

While they deliver decent sound quality, their noise-cancellation capabilities don’t quite measure up to competitors at this price point. Additionally, the headband lacks adequate padding for long listening sessions.

With impressive battery life, excellent connectivity, and a robust app, they are certainly usable. However, additional physical buttons for playback and other controls would enhance the overall experience.

At the £300 price mark and its equivalents, there are better options available that combine superior sound quality, noise cancellation, and comfort. Thus, these headphones may suit those looking for a distinct visual statement rather than purely performance.

Pros: Striking design, superb button controls, excellent sound quality, effective noise cancellation, well-designed apps for Android and iPhone, impressive spatial audio, 3.5mm and USB-C compatibility, Bluetooth multipoint, and a decent case.

Cons: The headband padding is somewhat thin, they are relatively heavy, not foldable for transport, average noise-cancellation performance, attract significant attention, and are priced on the higher side.

The headphones can rotate flat but do not fold for easy storage or travel. A larger case is provided. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian